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Hogs and pigs report has smaller breeding herd, reduced farrowing intentions

The USDA’s hogs and pigs report shows the potential for slowdown in the re-expansion of the U.S. herd after PEDv.

As of March 1st, the U.S. breeding herd was 5.980 million head, down slightly on both the quarter and the year. The market hog inventory, at 61.664 million head, was 1% lower than last quarter, but up slightly from last year.

The number of sows farrowed during the quarter were below year ago levels and farrowing projections for this spring and summer indicate reduced intentions.

Pigs saved per litter were a record 10.3 pigs, however, because of a smaller number of litters, the December 2015 to February 2016 pig crop was down slightly on the year at 29.582 million head.

The total number of hogs and pigs in the U.S. on March 1st was 67.644 million head, a little less than last quarter, but a little more than last year.