Minor Gain in Pig Stocks

WASHINGTON - Sep 27/02 - SNS -- The USDA says there was only a 1% increase in hog inventories in the United States as of September 1, with 60.2 million animals on hand, up 1% from a year ago and slightly above June 1, 2002.

Breeding inventory, at 6.05 million head, was down 2% from September 1, 2001, and down 2% from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 54.2 million head, was 1% above last year and slightly above last quarter.

The June-August 2002 U.S. pig crop, at 25.1 million head, was 2% less than both 2001, and 2000. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.83 million head, 2% below last year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 46% of the breeding herd. The average pigs per litter was 8.87 pigs saved per litter for the June-August 2002 period, unchanged from last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 9.00 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.82 million sows farrow during the September-November 2002 quarter, 2% below the actual farrowings during the same period in 2001, and 1% below 2000. Intended farrowings for December 2002-February 2003, at 2.81 million sows, are 1% below the same period in 2002, but up 2% from 2001.

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