News

June 1 hog inventory biggest ever

The U.S. hog herd on June 1st was the largest on record.

The USDA says the inventory was 71.650 million head, up 3% on the year, and the biggest since the series of reports started in 1964. The market herd was also a new June 1st high at 65.581 million head, up 4%, and the breeding herd was up 2% from last year at 6.069 million head.

By weight, the herd weighing less than 50 pounds was 21.017 million head and the 50 to 119 pound category was 18.831 million head, both up 3% from a year ago, while the 120 to 179 pound weight class was 13.856 million head and hogs weighing more than 180 pounds accounted for 11.877 million head, both 4% larger.

The March to May pig crop was the second biggest ever at 32.264 million and pigs saved per litter was a new record high for the quarter at 10.55 head.

The available supply of pigs may not be shrinking any time soon with farrowing intentions for summer and fall up on the year.

The numbers look bearish for cash and futures trade, but may already be factored in as slaughter numbers implied a larger than reported herd.