April 8, 2024

More than 70 million hogs and pigs on US farms as of March 1

There were 74.6 million hogs and pigs on US farms as of March 1, 2024, up 1% from March 2023 but down 2% from December 1, 2023, according to the latest US hog inventory report released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Of the 74.6 million hogs and pigs, 68.6 million were market hogs, while 6.02 million were kept for breeding.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, 33.1 million pigs were weaned on US farms, up 2% from the same period one year earlier. An average of 11.53 pigs per litter were weaned.

US hog producers intend to have 2.92 million sows farrow between March and May 2024 and 2.99 million sows farrow between June and August 2024.

Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the US states, at 25.2 million head. Minnesota had the second-largest inventory at 9.10 million head. North Carolina was third with 7.40 million head.

- USDA