July 2, 2007

US June pork production grew by 2 percent despite US$4 corn
 

Despite inexorably high prices of corn, US hog production as of June 1 this year was 62.8 million head or 2 percent growth on-year and on March 2007, according to the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture.

The breeding numbers are at 6.12 million head, up 1 percent from last year, and 2 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 56.6 million head, was up 2 percent from both last year and last quarter.

The March-May 2007 pig statistics, at 27.1 million head, was up 2 percent from 2006 and up 4 percent from 2005. Sows farrowing during this period totalled 2.97 million head, up 1 percent from 2006 and up 3 percent 2005. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 9.15 for the March-May 2007 period, compared to 9.08 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 9.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

US hog producers intend to have 2.96 million sows farrow during the June-August 2007 quarter, up 2 percent, and up 1 percent from 2005. Intended farrowings for September-November 2007, at 2.96 million sows, are up slightly from 2006 and up 2 percent from 2005.

Dr. Chris Hurt, Purdue extension Livestock Economist is forecasting hogs on a live weight bases will average US$51 in the 3rd quarter of this year, US$46 in the 4th quarter, and range from US$53 to US$55 in 2008.