June 30, 2009

South Dakota's June 1 inventory of all hogs and pigs was 1.28 million head, down 10 percent from last year and down 2 percent from last quarter, according to the South Dakota office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Breeding stock totalled 155,000 head, up 3 percent from June 2008, and also up 3 percent from last quarter. Market hogs totalled 1,125,000 head, down 12 percent from last year, and down 3 percent from March 2009.

The March through May pig crop was 869,000 head, up 5 percent from 825,000 head last year.

During the quarter 86,000 sows farrowed, up 1 percent from the 85,000 farrowings a year ago.

Pigs per litter averaged 10.1, up from the previous year's 9.7 average. Producers intend to farrow 82,000 sows during June through August, which is equal to the actual farrowings a year ago.

Intentions for September through November are for 80,000 farrowings, down from 84,000 actual farrowings one year earlier.