October 6, 2006

US pig and hog inventory up 1 percent on-year

The US inventory of all hogs and pigs on Sep 1 was 62.7 million head, up one percent from last year and up two percent from Jun 1.

The US breeding herd totaled 6.08 million, an increase of 2 percent from the previous year. Market hogs were up 1 percent at 56.6 million head.

Wisconsin had 430,000 hogs and pigs on Sep 1, an increase of 10,000 head from 2005, a 2.3 percent increase.

Market hogs in the state totaled 375,000, but up one percent from the previous year, according to the state's agriculture department. Meanwhile, the breeding herd has remained steady since June at 55,000 head.

The state's pig crop from June-August was at 230,000, up six percent from 2005. Sows farrowing during the quarter totaled 26,000 up 1,000 from last year.

Pigs per litter climbed to 8.85, compared to 8.70 last year.