All hogs and pigs on North Carolina farms on December 1, totaled 8.0 million head, down 2.4% from September 1. Market hogs, at 7.19 million head, are down 10% from last year and down 2.7% from last quarter. Breeding stock totaled 810,000 head, down 4% from last year and same as September 1, 2021. The State’s pig crop during the September - November 2021 period totaled 4.5 million head, down 3.0% from the same period last year. These pigs were produced by 410,000 sows; a 7% decrease from 2020. Pigs saved per litter averaged at 10.9, compared to 10.5 the same quarter last year. North Carolina producers intend to farrow 405,000 sows during the December 2021 - February 2022 quarter and 415,000 sows during the March - May 2022 quarter. North Carolina currently ranks 3rd nationally, behind Iowa and Minnesota, in the total number of hogs and pigs produced.

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