July 2, 2013

As of June 1, 2013, US inventory of all hogs and pigs was 66.6 million head, a slight decline from 2012, but up 2% from March 1 of this year.

Breeding inventory, at 5.88 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up 1% from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.8 million head, was down slightly from last year, but up 2% from last quarter.

US hog producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow during the June-August 2013 quarter, down slightly from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2012, and down slightly from 2011. Intended farrowings for September-November 2013, at 2.92 million sows, are up 1% from 2012, but down slightly from 2011.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 46% of the total US hog inventory, down from 47% last year.