Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 6/29/18



The U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1 was 73.5 million head, up 3 percent from a year ago, and the highest level on that date since estimates began in 1964, USDA said Thursday.

The increased inventory, which was up 1 percent from March 1, was generally in line with analyst pre-report estimates, showing continued U.S. herd growth, according to the Daily Livestock Report, published by Steiner Consulting Group.

Breeding inventory, at 6.32 million head, was up 3 percent from last year, and up 2 percent from the previous quarter, USDA said in the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report.

Animals kept for breeding were above the expected level and outside the pre-report range, coming in about 100,000 head above the analyst average, according to the DLR.

“With more hogs coming to market, a key to tonnage produced in the months ahead will be barrow and gilt dressed weights,” the DLR analysts wrote. Through the week ending June 16, the analysts noted, dressed weight has declined significantly and returned to year-ago and prior five-year average levels.

USDA said the March-May 2018 pig crop, at 33.2 million head, was up 4 percent from 2017, and the largest March-May pig crop since estimates began in 1970. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 3.12 million head, up 4 percent from 2017. Sows farrowed represented 50 percent of the breeding herd.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 3.17 million sows farrow during the June-August 2018 quarter, up 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2017, and up 4 percent from 2016. Intended farrowings for September-November 2018, at 3.18 million sows, are up 2 percent from 2017, and up 4 percent from 2016.

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