May 2, 2011

US, Canadian hog inventory show slight increase

The US and Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs for March 2011 was 75.8 million head, an increase of 1% from March 2010, according to the joint USDA/Statistics Canada report: United States and Canadian Hogs.

The breeding inventory, at 7.1 million head, was up slightly from last year and last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 68.7 million head, was up 1% from last year but down 1% from last quarter.

The pig crop, at 35.1 million head, was up 1% from 2010 but down 3% from 2009. Sows farrowed during this period totalled 3.56 million head, down 1% from last year and down 5% from 2009.

Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs on April 1, 2011, was 11.8 million head. This was up 1% from April 1, 2010, but down 1% from April 1, 2009.

The breeding inventory, at 1.31 million head, was down slightly from last year and last quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 10.5 million head, was up 2% from last year but down 1% from last quarter.

The pig crop, at 7.1 million head, was down 2% from 2010 and down 5% from 2009. Sows farrowed during this period totalled 708,000 head, down 2% from last year and down 6% from 2009.