April 1, 2009
US state hog numbers down from year-ago
The hog and pig inventory in Wisconsin, in northern central US, was 370,000 on March 1, 2009 - about 40,000 lesser than last year, but up 10,000 from December 2008.
The state's agriculture department reports that breeding hog inventory was unchanged from a year earlier at 45,000 head, but increased 5,000 head from last quarter.
Market hog numbers, at 325,000 head, declined 40,000 from last year but increased 5,000 head from December 2008.
From December 2008 through February 2009, Wisconsin's quarterly pig crop was 211,000 head, down 22,000 from the same time a year ago, but 5,000 head more from the previous quarter.
Sows farrowing during the quarter totaled 24,000 which are down 2,000 from a year earlier, but up 1,000 from the previous quarter, while pigs per litter averaged 8.80, compared to 8.95 last year.
US inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1 was 65.4 million head, down three percent from last year and down two percent from December 1, 2008.
Breeding inventory, at 6.01 million head, was down three percent from last year and down 1 percent from the previous quarter.
Market hog inventory was down 3 percent from last year at 59.4 million head, while pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.30 for operations with 1 to 99 hogs and pigs to 9.50 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.
