December 26, 2011
US November hog inventory down 1%
US hog inventory on December 1, 2011 was 65.9 million head, up 2% on-year, but down 1% on-month.
Breeding inventory, at 5.80 million head, was up slightly from last year, but down slightly from the previous quarter.
Market hog inventory, at 60.1 million head, was up 2% from last year, but down 1% from last quarter.
The September-November 2011 pig crop, at 29.0 million head, was up 2% from 2010. Sows farrowing during this period totalled 2.89 million head, up slightly from 2010. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50% of the breeding herd.
The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.02 for the September-November period, compared to 9.89 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.40 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.10 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.