This market update is a PorkBusiness.com weekly column reporting trends in weaner pigs. All information contained in this update is for the week ended May 23.
NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on May 23, and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.
When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in November 2025 using December 2025 futures, the weaner breakeven was $46.78, down $7.57 for the week. Feed costs were up $3.35 per head. December futures increased $.30 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is declined from last week by $1.71 per cwt.
The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners.For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $72.89.
Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.
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