U.S. hog inventory down

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2021 was 74.8 million head. This was down 2 percent from March 1, 2020, and down 3 percent from December 1, 2020.

The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report issued Thursday indicated breeding inventory, at 6.21 million head, was down 3 percent from last year, and down 1 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 68.6 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, and down 3 percent from last quarter. The December 2020-February 2021 pig crop, at 33.3 million head, was down 1 percent from last year.

Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.04 million head, down 1 percent from previous year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 10.94 for the December 2020-February 2021 period, compared to 11.00 last year.