April 30, 2007

US, Canada hog inventory up slightly

Inventory of all hogs as of March 2007 in the US and Canada was 75.2 million head, up 1 percent from the same period last year. The breeding inventory, at 7.69 million head, was virtually unchanged from a year ago, and from last quarter. On the other hand, market hog inventory, at 67.5 million head, was up slightly from last year, but down 2 percent from last quarter. The pig crop, at 34.3 million head, was up 1 percent from 2006 and up 2 percent from 2005. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 3.75 million head, up slightly from last year.

US inventory of all hogs as of March 1, 2007 was 61.1 million head, up 1 percent from March 1, 2006 but down 2 percent from December 1, 2006. Breeding inventory, at 6.08 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, but down slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 55.0 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, but down 2 percent from last quarter.

Inventory of all hogs and pigs on April 1, 2007 in Canada was 14.1 million head, down 3 percent from last year and down 1 percent from last quarter. The breeding inventory, at 1.61 million head, was down 2 percent from last year and down 1 percent from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 12.5 million head, was down 3 percent from last year and down 2 percent from last quarter. The pig crop, at 8.24 million head, was down 2 percent from both 2006 and 2005. Sows farrowed during this period totalled 877,000 head, down 2 percent from last year.