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USDA: record June 1st U.S. hog herd

The USDA says there were a record number of hogs and pigs in the U.S. on June 1st, 2020, but numbers could be contracting in the second half of the year.

The herd of 79.634 million head was up 3% from the previous quarter and 5% above a year ago, including a record number of market hogs at 73.308 million head, 6% higher, but a tighter breeding supply, down 1% on the year at 6.326 million head. The March through May pig crop and second quarter sow farrowings were both 1% higher than last year, at 34.933 million and 3.172 million head, respectively, with a record number of pigs saved per litter at 11.01.

The report does indicate that surveyed producers intend to reduce farrowings in the third and fourth quarter of the year in response to demand and profitability concerns. Projected farrowings for the June through August and September through November are both expected to be 5% below a year ago at 3.123 million and 3.09 million head, respectively.

The total number of contract hogs on operations larger than 5,000 head was 49% of the inventory, 2% more than this time last year.