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News from week of October 19th ā 26th, 2026
PORK WATCH
North America's Swine Industry Roundup
Disease Threats Build as Hog Margins ShrinkFMD and African swine fever spread into new territory abroad, while falling hog prices cut producer margins in half.
In this week's issue...
š· CFIA keeps its higher 3,000 mg/kg zinc limit for piglet starter feed during review. š FMD reaches pigs in Cyprus as ASF hits a Romanian commercial farm. š Farrow-to-finish margins fell by more than half to $7.84 per head. 
A Canadian flag pinned on a map of Canada. Source: National Hog Farmer. Canadian Swine SceneCFIA extends higher zinc limit for piglet feedNational Hog Farmer, October 20th 2026 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is keeping the interim maximum of 3,000 mg/kg zinc in starter swine feeds while it reviews new information from the Canadian Pork Council on how zinc works. The Feeds Regulations, 2024 set most swine feeds at 300 mg/kg, but the feed and swine industries warned the lower cap could make feeding young piglets harder. CFIA says it sees no safety concerns and will give industry advance notice of any change. Manitoba says it helped keep farm products off Canada’s retaliatory tariff listCBC News, October 22nd 2026 Manitoba’s U.S. trade representative Richard Madan says he raised concerns directly with Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, when Ottawa was weighing tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods, then rallied provincial farm groups. Ottawa ultimately shielded most farm products, though some dairy items remain on the list. Cross-border ties matter for pork: Manitoba ships more than three million young pigs to the U.S. each year, about two million of them directly to Iowa. The U.S. Pork ReportIowa delegation urges Washington to protect pork exports to MexicoNational Hog Farmer, October 21st 2026 Iowa’s congressional delegation, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to weigh the fallout from ending the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement. Mexico opened an antidumping investigation into U.S. pork in December 2025 after the agreement was terminated. The lawmakers note the U.S. ships more than one million metric tons of pork to Mexico a year, worth over $2.85 billion in 2025. Genetics & Breeding InnovationCanadian swine researchers launch a bilingual Pork Research HubFarms.com, October 26th 2026 Swine Innovation Porc, the Prairie Swine Centre, the Centre de Développement du Porc du Québec and the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement have launched a searchable hub that publishes Canadian swine research in both official languages. CDPQ general manager Jacques Faucher says it opens French-language Quebec work in genetics, nutrition, health and biosecurity, housing and economics to producers, veterinarians and researchers elsewhere in Canada, and vice versa. Balanced Breeding & SustainabilityK-State trials test ways to curb late-gestation sow aggressionFeedstuffs, October 26th 2026 Kansas State University researchers, with the University of Missouri, Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions and the National Pork Board, tested feed allocation, soluble fibre, magnesium, tryptophan and enrichment to reduce aggression among group-housed sows nearing farrowing. In a trial of nearly 1,500 sows and gilts, extra feed or fibre cut aggressive bouts around feeding stations. Suspended molasses and beet pulp enrichment blocks modestly reduced aggression without affecting litter performance or stress indicators. 
African swine fever outbreaks in European wild boar and domestic pigs, Aug. 27 to Sept. 30, 2026. Source: Pork Business. FMD and ASF move into new territory, SHIC’s October report showsPork Business, October 21st 2026 The Swine Health Information Center’s October global disease report flags Namibia’s first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak since 1964, FMD serotype A re-emerging in Turkey and FMD reaching domestic pigs in Cyprus. African swine fever keeps spreading in Finland’s wild boar, and Romania reported ASF in a 5,270-head commercial farm for the first time in nearly two years. SHIC executive director Dr. Lisa Becton urges U.S. producers to review daily biosecurity. Market & Supply Chain DynamicsFarrow-to-finish margins cut in half as cash hog prices slidePork Business, October 21st 2026 Sterling Marketing estimates farrow-to-finish margins averaged $7.84 per head last week, down from $16.87, as the Western Corn Belt hog price fell to $69.87/cwt from $74.64. Plant capacity utilization was about 96.3% and the pork cutout averaged $80.24/cwt, well below $102.84 a year ago. Lower hog costs lifted packer margins to $12.62 per head from $6.99. USDA trims 2026 pork production forecast by 150 million poundsFarms.com, October 26th 2026 USDA's October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates lowered its 2026 pork production forecast by 150 million pounds to 27.621 billion pounds, citing a slower expected pace of slaughter and lighter dressed weights. Beef production was cut 75 million pounds to 24.802 billion, partly offset by higher broiler and turkey output, leaving total red meat and poultry at 108.009 billion pounds. Quick BitesUSDA now forecasts 2026 hog prices 7% below 2025 on weak demand. Read More National Hog Farmer, October 26th 2026 New World screwworm found in a Texas elk, first U.S. wildlife detection. Read More National Hog Farmer, October 22nd 2026 Packers and producers named to new National Pork Board domestic marketing committee. Read More National Hog Farmer, October 20th 2026 Enjoying this brief? Share it with a colleague. Subscribe to Pork Watch āHave a news story we should cover, a tip, or thoughts on this edition? Send it over. Want to reach this audience? Sponsor a future edition. |
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Pork Watch | By Action Intelligence Group (AIG) | 421 Mulvey Ave, Winnipeg, MB, Canada | Ā© 2026 Action Intelligence Group. All rights reserved. |
