Expansion Continues in Hog Herd

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2013 was 66.6 million 
head. This was down slightly from June 1, 2012, but up 2 percent from March 1, 2013.Breeding inventory, at 5.88 million head, was up slightly from last year, and 
up 1 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.8 million 
head, was down slightly from last year, but up 2 percent from last quarter. 

The March-May 2013 pig crop, at 30.1 million head, was up slightly from 2012. 
Sows farrowed during this period totaled 2.92 million head, down 2 percent 
from 2012. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of 
the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.31 
for the March-May period, compared to 10.09 last year. Pigs saved per litter 
by size of operation ranged from 7.70 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs 
to 10.40 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States 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 percent 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 percent of the total United 
States hog inventory, down from 47 percent last year. 

Revisions