USDA Releases September 2024 Hogs and Pigs Report: Key Takeaways for the Swine Industry

Sep 30, 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published its latest Hogs and Pigs report for September 2024, providing critical data on inventory levels and key production trends in the swine industry. The following are the main highlights of the report:

Inventory Overview

The total inventory of hogs and pigs in the United States as of September 1, 2024, was 74.8 million head, reflecting a slight decrease of 1% compared to the same period last year.
The breeding inventory was reported at 6.13 million head, also down 1% from the previous year.
Market hog inventory reached 68.7 million head, down 1% from 2023.

Breeding and Farrowing Intentions

The report indicates that the number of sows farrowing during the June-August 2024 period totaled 2.92 million head, which was 2% below the same period a year earlier.
The number of pigs saved per litter was reported at an average of 11.3, relatively unchanged from the previous year.

Click here to see more...

Video: How to Capture the $80 Million Ground Pork Opportunity | 2026 Retail Trends

Meat is having a moment, and ground pork is perfectly positioned to help you capture new category growth.

In this business intelligence deep-dive, National Pork Board experts Bailey Morrell and Rick Smith break down the latest consumer behaviors, retail trends, and an $80 million incremental retail opportunity in ground pork.

Watch to learn how expanding your ground pork offerings, utilizing proper fat-lean ratio labeling, and building a dedicated "grinds set" can attract Gen Z and Millennial shoppers while driving "center of the plate" profitability.

we cover:

• Insights from the 2026 Power of Meat presentation.

• Why ground pork is the "gateway meat" for younger, high-value shoppers.

• How adding just two new ground pork SKUs can drive incremental sales.

• Actionable merchandising strategies, including the right fat-lean ratios for specific recipes.