Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 12/26/11


The U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on Dec. 1, 2011 was 65.9 million head, up 2 percent from Dec. 1, 2010, but down 1 percent from Sep. 1, 2011, according to USDA’s Hogs and Pigs report issued on Friday.
Breeding inventory, at 5.80 million head, was up slightly from last year, but down slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.1 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The September-November 2011 pig crop, at 29.0 million head, was up 2 percent from 2010.

Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.89 million head, up slightly from 2010. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd.

The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.02 for the September-November period, compared to 9.89 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.40 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.10 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.87 million sows farrow during the December 2011-February 2012 quarter, up 1 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2011, but down slightly from 2010.

Intended farrowings for March-May 2012, at 2.89 million sows, are down 1 percent from 2011, and down 1 percent from 2010.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 45 percent of the total United States hog inventory, unchanged from last year.

Revisions

All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 2010 through September 2011 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data.

Based on the findings of this review, an adjustment of less than one percent was made to the June 2011 total inventory. An adjustment of less than one half of one percent was made to the September 2011 total inventory. An adjustment of less than one and one half percent was made to the March-May 2011 pig crop.

To read the full report click here.
 

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