September 30, 2010

US hog inventory down 3%

US inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2010 was 65.0 million heads, down 3% from September 1, 2009, but up 1% from June 1, 2010.

Market hog inventory stood at 59.2 million heads, down 3% from last year but up 1% from last quarter. Breeding inventory, at 5.77 million heads, was down 2% from last year and down slightly from the previous quarter.

The June-August 2010 US pig crop, at 28.5 million head, was down 1% from 2009 and down 3% from 2008. Sows farrowing during this period totalled 2.91 million head, down 2% from 2009 and down 6% from 2008.

The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50% of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 9.81 for the June-August 2010 period, compared to 9.70 last year.

The litter rate equaled the record for pigs saved per litter set during the March-May 2010 period. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.80 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 9.90 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

Meanwhile, hog futures for December settlement dropped 1 cent, or 1.3%, to 75.775 cents a pound at 12:02 p.m. on the CME. A close at that price would be the biggest decline since September 7. Earlier, the price gained 17% this year.