Province's hog inventory steady

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There were 2.63 million hogs in Manitoba as of April 1 — the same number as on Jan. 1. (JEFF ROBERSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s hog inventory held steady during the first three months of this year, new Statistics Canada figures show.

The agency said today there were 2.63 million hogs in Manitoba as of April 1 — the same number as on Jan. 1.

However, April’s count was still 0.6 per cent higher than a year earlier, when there were just under 2.62 million.

Saskatchewan and British Columbia saw the biggest first-quarter increases, at one per cent each. And Saskatchewan had far and away the biggest year-over-year gain, at 13.8 per cent.

But despite the jump to 905,000 hogs, Saskatchewan still has only the fifth-largest hog herd in the country behind Quebec (3.9 million), Ontario (2.9 million), Manitoba and Alberta (1.5 million).

Canada saw its hog inventory increase by 0.2 per cent in the first quarter, to 12.04 million animals from 12.02 million at the start of the year. The year-over-year gain was 1.8 per cent.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca