PORK WATCH

North America's Swine Industry Roundup

Biosecurity and Market Pressure Drive Pork Week

Disease readiness, production cuts and data-led innovation set the pace across North America.

David Gould Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Canadian Swine Scene

Tariffs, biosecurity lead discussion at Manitoba Pork AGM

Manitoba Co-operator reports that trade uncertainty and biosecurity dominated Manitoba Pork’s annual general meeting. Speakers said roughly 90 percent of the province’s production is exported and warned the coming CUSMA review and rising protectionism could threaten market access. Discussion also covered African swine fever preparedness, PED control, wild pig eradication and senecavirus A risk.

New partnership with Farm Health Guardian launched

Sask Pork announced a partnership with Farm Health Guardian to provide digital transport biosecurity technology to Saskatchewan’s commercial swine farms. The system will use truck GPS, geofencing and real-time alerts to track third-party vehicle movement between sites. Sask Pork said the tool should strengthen disease response and support market access for a province that exports about 80 percent of its hogs.

The U.S. Pork Report

FAO, USDA unite to fight African swine fever in the Dominican Republic

National Hog Farmer reports that the Dominican Republic launched a National Swine Biosecurity Plan with support from FAO and USDA APHIS after African swine fever was confirmed in 2021. The program covers farm biosecurity, surveillance and value-chain protection. According to the article, 637 farms representing more than 80 percent of the national herd are enrolled, and certified farms account for one-quarter of commercial pork output.

Slower slaughter rates pull USDA beef, pork estimates lower

Brownfield Ag News reports USDA cut its 2026 pork production outlook to 27.975 billion pounds, 300 million below March, citing a slower slaughter pace. USDA also trimmed its beef forecast while raising poultry estimates. The update gives producers a fresh signal on expected meat supplies and competition across the protein complex.

Genetics & Breeding Innovation

The Heavyweight of Swine Science: Mark Knauer Pins Down Mortality

Pork Business profiles North Carolina State University researcher Mark Knauer, whose work focuses on sow and piglet mortality. The article highlights his development of the sow caliper, a body-condition tool used to estimate sow fatness from back angle measurements. It also underscores how mortality research and better phenotyping remain central to productivity, welfare and replacement decisions.

Proper Data is the Bedrock of Operational Analytics

Pork Business argues that cleaner, faster production records are becoming the foundation for better operational analytics in swine systems. The article says accurate data supports financial reporting, veterinary problem-solving and future automation tools. It also stresses that late or incomplete entry can distort herd-health decisions and reduce the value of analytics.

Balanced Breeding & Sustainability

Monobutyrin, monovalerin may help strengthen pigs' immunity

National Hog Farmer reports Utrecht University research found that monobutyrin and monovalerin increased production of a host defense peptide in piglets and cultured intestinal cells. The peptide showed activity against bacteria and may also damage porcine epidemic diarrhea virus particles. Researchers said the findings could support lower antibiotic use, although on-farm validation is still needed.

Novel tech targets airborne swine pathogens

National Hog Farmer reports University of Minnesota researchers are developing aerosol sampling and sequencing tools to detect airborne swine viruses such as PRRSV at very low levels. Backed by new USDA funding, the project uses TELSVirus sequencing to detect multiple viruses and identify variants quickly. Researchers say air sampling could lower biosecurity risk versus direct animal sampling and improve understanding of farm-to-farm spread.

Market & Supply Chain Dynamics

China’s hog surplus, plunging prices muddy tariff solution

The Western Producer reports China’s pork oversupply is complicating Canada’s effort to remove Beijing’s 25 percent tariff on Canadian pork. The article says Chinese retail pork prices have fallen to multi-year lows, January-February pork imports dropped 19 percent year over year and Canada’s January exports to China were down about 50 percent. Continued expansion by major Chinese producers is keeping pressure on prices.

Reduced farrowings, slaughter push pork production down

National Hog Farmer reports USDA lowered its 2026 pork production forecast to 27.975 billion pounds after the March Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report showed reduced farrowings through much of the year. USDA also cut its average barrow and gilt price forecast to $69 per hundredweight. First-quarter export expectations were raised, but the rest-of-year export outlook was unchanged.

Quick Bites

Mexico screwworm cases keep swine biosecurity pressure elevated. Read More

Senecavirus webinar warns lesions still mimic foreign animal disease. Read More

U.S. diagnostics advance for Japanese encephalitis virus preparedness. Read More

Weaner pig breakeven slips to $71.10 for the week. Read More