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.
