It’s back again this year! The Pork Quality Competition is the event that celebrates excellence in pork production by recognizing “Best of the Best.” Here hog producers from across Canada come together to compete in what has become the largest hog carcass competition in North America – and possibly the world.
A highlight of Prairie Livestock Expo, producers compete for the title of Grand Champion – the carcass with the perfect combination of meat quality traits and measurements.
The producers aren’t the only winners in the Pork Quality Competition. Along with all the bragging rights, the Top 10 entries are awarded a cash prize, of which 100 per cent is donated to charities of their choice. The producers also donate all of the meat from the carcasses entered in the competition to Siloam Mission and to Harvest Manitoba for distribution to local food banks in communities throughout Manitoba.
Since the first competition in 1996 to this year’s Expo, more than $465,000 has been donated to international, national, rural and urban charities such as hospitals, drop-in centres, and children’s organizations. And more than 162,000 lbs (over 73,000 kgs) of top quality pork has been donated to Manitoba’s food banks to help feed Manitobans in need.
This event is dependent solely upon industry sponsorship.
Entry Information
- Eligibility: Canadian hog producers only
- Opening date for applications: September 8, 2026
- Closing date for applications: November 9, 2026
- Fee: NO ENTRY FEE
- Limit: Maximum of two (2) market hogs per sow operation. See Entry Form below for additional information.
All entries are accepted until November 9 (the closing date for applications).
- PQC Letter to Producers (PDF)
- PQC Entry Form (PDF)
- PQC Judging Criteria (PDF) – to come
Industry Sponsorship
Our thanks go to the many sponsors of the Pork Quality Competition. This event would not be possible without their financial support as the competition is dependent solely upon industry sponsorship.
For more information, please contact:
Eric Klassen
Pork Quality Carcass Competition
eric.klassen@newstandardag.com
C: (204) 905-2276
Jason Care
Pork Quality Carcass Competition
JCare@manitobapork.com
C: (204) 792-2085
Andres Pulido
Pork Quality Carcass Competition
apulido@premiershp.ca
C: (204) 326-2999
Grant Melnychuk
Pork Quality Carcass Competition
gmelnychuk@manitobapork.com
C: (204) 430-0686