Source: MEATINGPLACE, 12/25/17

The United States’ inventory of all hogs and pigs on Dec. 1 was 73.2 million head, an increase of 2 percent from the same time last year, but down slightly from Sept. 1, USDA said Friday.

Breeding inventory, at 6.18 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, and up 1 percent from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 67.1 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, but down slightly from last quarter.

The September-November 2017 pig crop, at 33.4 million head, was up 3 percent from 2016. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.11 million head, up 2 percent from 2016. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 51 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high of 10.74 for the September-November period, compared to 10.63 last year.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 3.07 million sows farrow during the December-February 2018 quarter, up 3 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2017, and up 5 percent from 2016. Intended farrowings for March-May 2018, at 3.08 million sows, are up 2 percent from 2017, and up 4 percent from 2016.

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