Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Maple Leaf sees only slight hog production dip




Jason Manness, director of hog procurement for Maple Leaf Foods, has told Reuters news agency that he foresees only a slight decline in hog production next year.

Now that's what I call defiantly optimistic. 

His prediction came after both Big Sky Farms of Humboldt, Sask., and Puratone Corp. of Niverville, Man., declared bankruptcy.

Both are major Maple Leaf suppliers and both are among the largest hog-producing companies in Canada. HyLife, Canada’s largest hog-producing company, said it expects Canadian hog production will decline.

"Obviously the challenge that we currently face is producers are exiting the business," Manness said.

"We expect less hogs in 2013, but only marginally lower at this point in time."

HyLife issued a statement saying “HyLife is also challenged but, together with our financial partners, remains confident and optimistic with regards to the future of our industry."

Maple Leaf needs about 90,000 hogs per week for its slaughtering plant at Brandon, Man., and owns farms supplying about 20 per cent of its needs.