Canada is opening its border to hogs from the United States.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has simplified import requirements for slaughter hogs from pseudorabies-free states.
The border has technically been open since 1998, but practically U.S. producers were unable to send hogs north.
“In essence it was impossible to meet all the conditions,” said Marcel Hacault, chair of the Manitoba Pork Council.
That has been a sore spot with the U.S. National Pork Producers Council for some time.
The amendments to the Health of Animals Act may pave the way for shipments of up to 50,000 hogs next year and larger exports down the road, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Current exchange rates will prevent significant imports this year.
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Brian Peart, a spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said the number of U.S. hogs coming over the border will be determined by Canadian packers. There is no quota, but the hogs have to be inspected by a CFIA veterinarian when they enter Canada and a vet has to visit the barns they are coming from in the U.S.
“There’s still a fairly tight control. It’s not like bringing cattle in,” said Peart.
The big difference is U.S. shippers no longer need a vet to inspect the animals as they are loaded onto the truck.
Improved prices
Canadian hog industry officials are confident the open border will lead to better hog prices. Hacault said packers usually give Canadian growers a price backed off to the U.S. With the border open they will no longer be able to justify that freight deduction.
