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United States Hog Inventory Up 1%

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports that there were 79.1 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms as of Sept. 1, 2020, up 1% from September 2019, but down 1% from June 1, 2020, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published today.

Other key findings in the report were:

  • Of the 79.1 million hogs and pigs, 72.8 million were market hogs, while 6.33 million were kept for breeding.
  • Between June and August 2020, 35.1 million pigs were weaned on U.S. farms, down 3% from the same time period one year earlier.
  • From June through August 2020, U.S. hog and pig producers weaned an average of 11.04 pigs per litter.
  • U.S. hog producers intend to have 3.12 million sows farrow between September and November 2020, and 3.11 million sows farrow between December 2020 and February 2021.
  • Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the states, at 25.1 million head. North Carolina had the second largest inventory at 9.60 million head. Minnesota was third with 9.20 million head.

To obtain an accurate measurement of the U.S. swine industry, NASS surveyed over 5,000 operators across the nation during the first half of September. Surveyed producers were asked to report their hog and pig inventories as of Sept. 1, 2020 by internet, mail, or telephone.

The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.

Source : usda.gov

Trending Video

Secure Pork Supply Plan | Preparing for the Future | U.S. Pork Producers

Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Preparing for the Future | U.S. Pork Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan in preparing the U.S. pork industry for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. This video is an essential watch for pork producers who are looking to safeguard their operations against the threats of diseases like foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever.

Why Should Pork Producers Care? An outbreak of foreign animal diseases in the U.S. could lead to severe restrictions and potentially result in industry-wide financial losses estimated between $15 to $100 billion. The SPS Plan is a collective effort to prevent such catastrophic outcomes by enhancing biosecurity, ensuring animal traceability, and promoting effective disease monitoring.

What You'll Learn:

The Importance of Preparedness: Understand why being proactive is crucial for maintaining business continuity during an outbreak. Enhanced Biosecurity Measures: Write a site-specific biosecurity plan that can serve as the first line of defense against potential outbreaks. Animal Disease Traceability: Learn about the significance of tracking animal movement and how acquiring a premises identification number (PIN) and using AgView can facilitate this process. Disease Monitoring: Find out how continuous observation and reporting can keep your herd healthy and disease-free.

Getting Started with SPS: The video breaks down the seemingly daunting task of preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak into manageable steps. With free resources available at www.securepork.org, including templates and instructions, Jill guides producers on developing a customized plan to enhance their farm's defenses.

Expert Insights: Hear from Dr. Pam Zaabel on collaborating with your herd veterinarian to develop and implement your SPS plan effectively.

Takeaway: The Secure Pork Supply initiative is more than a plan; it's a commitment to the resilience of our food supply and the livelihoods within the pork industry. By embracing these proactive measures, we can collectively enhance our preparedness for foreign animal disease outbreaks.