By Andi Anderson
North 49 Foods, a division of Donald's Fine Foods Group, has opened a new state-of-the-art sow processing plant in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This is the first new pork processing facility in Canada in over a decade and is expected to bring significant economic and environmental benefits to the region.
The plant is repurposed from the mothballed JBS/XL Foods Beef Plant and represents an investment of over $60 million. It is located in close proximity to Western Canadian hog producers, which will help to reduce the industry's carbon footprint, enhance animal welfare, and improve pricing for producers.
The plant is expected to receive its first shipment of sows by November 2 and will initially employ around 80 workers. At full capacity, it is expected to employ up to 200 people. The project received a $5 million interest-free loan from PrairiesCanada, with additional contributions from the provincial government and Sask Pork to support infrastructure for handling infectious disease outbreaks.
The state-of-the-art plant has a maximum capacity of approximately 225,000 sows per year and is equipped with computer controls and innovative processes to ensure the well-being of animals, maintain food safety standards, and efficiently package and ship the final products.
The opening of the new sow processing plant is a significant development for the Canadian pork industry. It will help to address concerns related to cross-border livestock controls, infectious diseases, transportation costs, and animal welfare. It is also expected to bring significant economic benefits to the Moose Jaw region.
Categories: Illinois, Livestock, Hogs