The size of the Canadian pig herd on July 1 was 12.9m, an increase of 1% on the year, according to BPEX.
Based on the latest figures published by Statistics Canada, the 1% increase applied equally to both the country’s breeding pigs, which are now at 1,222,000 head, and slaughter pigs, currently at 11,713,000.
“As such,” commented BPEX, “the impact of the PEDv outbreak was not as evident in the overall Canadian pig numbers as it has been in the US.
“However, although most categories recorded increases, the number weighing less than 23kg came down by 1% on the year before. It is possible that this partly resulted from PEDv leading to some piglet and weaner deaths.”
The results also showed that the number of sows farrowed fell by 2% in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2013, which may also have been influenced by PEDv.
“Consequently,” added BPEX, “the Canadian pig crop declined by 1% on a year earlier. Farrowings in the second half of 2014 are expected to increase marginally, however, compared with both the first half of this year and a year earlier.”