Saskatchewan Hog Industry Fast Facts
Production
In 2022, approximately 2.4 million pigs were produced on farms in Saskatchewan. This includes 1.68 million market animals, 683,000 feeder pigs and 56,000 culled sows and breeding stock exported to the U.S.
As of 2022, Saskatchewan had 78 registered individuals/companies producing hogs on 147 active quality assured production units in the province. In addition to this, Saskatchewan has over 350 registered small-scale premises with hogs.
In 2022, Saskatchewan produced 9 percent of all pigs in Canada.
Saskatchewan is the 5th largest producer of hogs in Canada behind Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta.
Canada, as a whole, accounts for less than two percent of world pork production.
Saskatchewan has one of the lowest concentrations of pigs per square mile of arable farmland in the world at 16.2. This compares favourably to many jurisdictions including Alberta (38.6), Manitoba (188.7), Iowa (544.9), and Denmark (1,339.3).
Trade
Saskatchewan exports significant quantities of pork and live pigs inter-provincially and internationally. In fact, residents of Saskatchewan consume less than 20% of the pork produced on farms in the province.
About 70% percent of the pork produced in Canada is ultimately exported.
Canada is the world’s third largest exporter of pork, accounting for 13% of the pork trade world-wide in 2022. Only the United States and European Union export more.
The U.S. and Japan are Canada’s largest markets for pork and pork products, accounting for over 50% of total export sales.
The U.S. continues to be an important destination for Saskatchewan market hogs and feeder pigs. In 2022, Saskatchewan exported over 50,000 animals for slaughter, and over 600,000 weanlings and feeder pigs.
Pricing/Slaughter
The prices Saskatchewan producers receive for hogs at western Canadian packing plants are derived via formula from major U.S. markets.
In 2022, the index 100 hog prices averaged $224.32/ckg. Over the past five years, prices have averaged $178.90/ckg.
Assuming an average carcass weight of 100 kg, 110 index, and other bonuses of $4/hog, the total value of a hog in 2022 was $250.75/hog, while the 5-year average was $200.79/hog.
In 2022, 312,200 hogs were processed in Saskatchewan.
Currently, Saskatchewan’s main federally inspected hog slaughter facility is Thunder Creek Pork, located in Moose Jaw.
Economic Benefits
Hog production is the third most significant agricultural sector in Saskatchewan behind the grains and oilseeds sector, and beef production.
In 2022, Saskatchewan hog producers had cash receipts of 514 million according to Statistics Canada. This accounted for 2.4 percent of total agriculture sales in Saskatchewan, and 18 percent of total livestock sales.
Hog production generates significant community spinoffs in feed manufacturing, processing, trucking, and construction/maintenance.
Over 1500 people are directly employed in the pork industry in Saskatchewan, with careers in production, processing, animal health, nutrition, and transport.
A typical 600-sow farrow-finish barn spends roughly $3.5 million per year on operating expenses.
A typical farrow-finish production unit incurs 71% of its expenditures within 80 km of the operation, with the majority of this being locally produced feed grain.
A hog on average requires well over 1/3 of a tonne of feed to reach market weight.
Saskatchewan hog producers annually use over 600,000 tonnes of local feed grains including wheat, barley, field peas, and canola meal.