U.S. hog inventory up 2% on year
Friday, September 30th 2016
Courtesy of Brownfield Ag News
The U.S. hog herd expanded last quarter, but there are signs the expansion may be ending. The U.S. herd contracted during the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus outbreak in 2013 and 2014. As of September 1st, 2016, U.S. swine inventory was up 4% on the quarter and 2% on the year at 70.851 million head, with 1% year to year increase in the breeding herd to 6.016 million head and a record number of market hogs at 64.835 million head. By weight, market hogs weighing less than 50 pounds were 21.090 million head and 50 to 119 pounders were 18.851 million head, both up 2% on the year. The 120 to 179 pound category came out at 13.325 million head and the 180 pound and heavier inventory was 11.568 million head, both up 4% on the year. Sow farrowings from June through August were also above year ago levels at 3.024 million head and there were new record highs for the pig crop, 31.983 million head, and the number of pigs saved per litter, an average of 10.58. The re-expansion has put a lot of pork on the market, drastically lowering cash and futures prices, and fall and winter farrowing intentions are below year ago levels. September through November 2016 intentions are projected at 2.928 million head, 2% lower, and December 2016 through February 2017 intentions are seen at 2.925 million head, which would be a slight year to year decrease.