September 3, 2007

Growth in the US artificial insemination industry leveling off

A study by the University of Missouri and Iowa State University has indicated that the growth in the artificial insemination may be slowing down.

The industry grew strongly from 1997 to 2003, but that growth has since fizzled, the study said. This was particularly so since farms with more than 50,000 hogs have achieved 100-percent hogs conceived through artificial insemination.

Inseminations at farms with less than 3,000 hogs rose from 10 percent in 1997 to 23 percent in 2000 and has remained at that level through to 2006.

Farms with 10,000-50,000 hogs marketed annually have about 88 percent of their pigs conceived through artificial insemination by 2006 rising from 58 percent in 1997.

Percentage of pigs conceived through artificial insemination in operations with more than 50,000 hogs marketed annually rose from 84 percent in 1997 to 100 percent by 2003.