Hogs & Pigs Report expected to show more herd contraction

The U.S. hog herd is expected to be 2.9% smaller than year-ago as of Dec. 1.

hogs_pigs_(67).jpeg
hogs_pigs_(67).jpeg
(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

USDA’s Hogs & Pigs Report is expected to show the U.S. hog herd contracted 2.9% from year-ago as of Dec. 1. The marketing herd is expected to be down 3.1%, with breeding numbers 0.1% above last year. Analysts anticipate the fall pig crop was 2.9% smaller than last year on a 3.3% drop in farrowings. But they expect USDA will report farmers intend to farrow slightly more sows this winter and next spring. USDA will release the data at 2 p.m. CT on Thursday.

Hogs & Pigs Report

Average estimate
(% of year-ago)

Range of estimates
(% of year-ago)

Million head

All hogs Dec. 1

97.1

96.2-99.1

74.594

Kept for breeding

100.1

99.6-100.5

6.182

Kept for marketing

96.9

96.0-99.1

68.456

Market hog inventory

under 50 lbs.

97.0

94.2-100.0

50 lbs.-119 lbs.

97.1

94.8-99.5

120 lbs.-179 lbs.

96.0

94.0-98.1

Over 180 lbs.

96.8

95.3-98.2

Pig crop (Sept.-Nov.)

97.1

96.1-99.4

Pigs per litter (Sept.-Nov.)

100.4

100.0-100.9

Farrowings (Sept.-Nov.)

96.7

95.8-99.0

Farrowing intentions (Dec.-Feb.)

100.9

100.4-101.5

Farrowing intentions (March-May)

100.3

98.3-102.2