Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 12/25/18



The U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on Dec. 1 was 74.6 million head, up 2 percent from the same date a year ago, but down 1 percent from Sept. 1, 2018, according to USDA’s most recent quarterly hogs and pigs report.

Most of the key numbers in the December report were lower than market analysts had expected, noted the Daily Livestock Report, published by Steiner Consulting Group. The market, the DLR analysts said, saw the report as “supportive for hog prices this spring and summer.”

For example, analysts were expecting the total inventory to be up 2.7 percent over the same date a year ago.
The supply of hogs expected to come to market in January and February — those weighing between 120 and 179 lbs., was estimated to be 3.5 percent higher year-over-year, while analysts were expecting a 2.9 percent increase, the DLR noted. The supply of pigs that are under 50 pounds, that would be coming to market later in the spring, is estimated to be less than 1 percent higher than in 2018.

Other data
Breeding inventory, at 6.33 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, but down slightly from the previous quarter.
Market hog inventory, at 68.2 million head, also was up 2 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The September-November 2018 pig crop, at 34.0 million head, was up 2 percent from 2017. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.16 million head, up 2 percent from 2017. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd.

The average pigs saved per litter was a record high of 10.76 for the September-November period, compared to 10.74 last year.
U.S. hog producers intend to have 3.11 million sows farrow during the December-February 2019 quarter, up 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2018, and up 4 percent from 2017. Intended farrowings for March-May 2019, at 3.15 million sows, are up 2 percent from 2018, and up 4 percent from 2017.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 47 percent of the total U.S. hog inventory, unchanged from the previous year.

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