July 1, 2008

US swine inventory on June 1 reached 67.7 million head, up 6 percent on-year.

Breeding inventory was at 6.07 million head, down 1 percent on-year, while market hog inventory grew 7 percent on-year to 61.6 million head.

Pig crop from March to May reached 29 million head, up 4 percent on-year. Sows farrowing during this period totalled 3.09 million head, up 2 percent on-year, and accounted for 51 percent of the breeding herd.

US hog producers plan to farrow 3.07 million sows during June-August, down 2 percent on-year. Intended farrowings for September to November are 3.05 million sows, down 4 percent on-year.

Total hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head but raised by contractees accounted for 41 percent of the total US hog inventory, up 2 percent from last year.