Manitoba Pork is expecting to see between 50 and 100 new barn applications over the next five years.

That was the message Wednesday, at the organization's annual general meeting in Winnipeg.

Chair George Matheson says the province has been doing its part to reduce regulatory burdens, adding he expects to see construction underway on some new barns by the end of the year.

"It's a very expensive proposition, financial returns haven't been great recently, but nonetheless there is some serious inquiries by producers into building new barns this year and I think in fact by the end of 2017, for the first time in a long time we will see some new barns constructed in Manitoba."

Manitoba Pork says there are about seven new barn applications underway right now.

Matheson notes hog numbers were pretty steady last year, with about 4.5 million slaughter hogs produced and about 3 million weanlings exported.