Weather Disruptions Prop Up Prices, But Demand Concerns Persist

Mar 06, 2023

Hog slaughter was lower last week as snowstorms disrupted the transportation of hogs to processing facilities. U.S. hog producers are still incentivized to pull hogs forward as current prices are below the cost of production.

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Highlights

Hog slaughter was lower last week as snowstorms disrupted the transportation of hogs to processing facilities. U.S. hog producers are still incentivized to pull hogs forward as current prices are below the cost of production.
Pork belly inventory at the end of January was a little over 70 million pounds, 57% higher than a year ago. Ample freezer inventories should keep belly prices in check through March. Higher prices are expected in Q2.
Pork exports have been trending higher in recent weeks as world buyers take advantage of the attractive prices in the U.S. market. U.S. hog prices currently are trading at a discount to both the EU and Brazil (see page 30 of this report).
Two consecutive weeks of big sales to Mexico have helped bolster prices for bone-in hams. Boneless ham prices, however, are running below year-ago levels as higher prices at retail have curtailed some of the domestic demand.

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Video: Delivering A Lamb From Start To Finish

Delivering a lamb from start to finish at Ewetopia Farms today. We will show you a Suffolk ewe as we tube feed her first lamb, dip it's naval with iodine, all while the mom licks off her lamb and works on delivering her second lamb. We demonstrate how to gently lie a sheep down to make assisting her give birth easier. We show how to deliver the lamb without hurting either the lamb or ewe. We end off with the birth of a big beautiful Suffolk lamb to join it's twin