United States Hog Inventory Down Slightly
United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2012 was 66.3 million head. This was down slightly from December 1, 2011, and down 2 percent from September 1, 2012.
Breeding inventory, at 5.82 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.5 million head, was down slightly from last year, and down 2 percent from last quarter.
The September-November 2012 pig crop, at 29.4 million head, was up slightly from 2011. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.90 million head, down 1 percent from 2011. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.15 for the September-November period, compared to 10.02 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.
United States hog producers intend to have 2.86 million sows farrow during the December 2012-February 2013 quarter, up slightly from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2012, and up 1 percent from 2011.Intended farrowings for March-May 2013, at 2.93 million sows, are down 2 percent from 2012, but up slightly from 2011.
The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 47 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up from 45 percent last year.
Revisions
All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 2011 through September 2012 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data. Based on the findings of this review, an adjustment of less than one and one half percent was made to the June 2012 total inventory. An adjustment of less than one half of one percent was made to the September 2012 total inventory. An adjustment of more than two percent was made to the March-May 2012 pig crop.
Source: USDA