(WASHINGTON D.C.) — On Thursday afternoon, USDA released its Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report which showed U.S. hog inventory at 74.6 million head on March 1st, 2024. That numbers was up 1% from March 1st, 2023.
Breeding inventory, at 6.02 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, but up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 68.6 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, but down 2 percent from last quarter.
The December 2023-February 2024 pig crop, at 33.1 million head, was up 2 percent from last year. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.88 million head, down 3 percent from previous year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.53 for the December 2023-February 2024 period, compared to 11.02 last year.
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More analysis from our partners at DTN/Progressive Farmer can be found here:
