Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report released

Illinois inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2017 was 5.25 million head, up 3 percent from December 1, 2016 and up 2 percent from last year.

Breeding inventory, at 540,000 head, was unchanged from the previous quarter but up 40,000 from last year. Market hog inventory, at 4.71 million head, was up 3 percent from last quarter and up 1 percent from last year.

The December-February 2017 pig crop, at 2.70 million head, was up 4 percent from 2016. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 265,000 head, up 15,000 from a year ago. The average pigs saved per litter was 10.20 for the December-February period, compared with 10.35 last year.