Hog Inventory Up on Year

WASHINGTON - Dec 27/07 - SNS -- The number of hogs and pigs on farms in the United States on December 1 rose 4% from last year but slipped 1% from September to total 65.1 million animals, according to the USDA.

Breeding inventory, at 6.16 million head, was up 1% from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 59.0 million head, was up 5% from last year, but down 1% from last quarter.

The September-November 2007 pig crop, at 28.0 million head, was up 4% from 2006 and up 7% from 2005. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.03 million head, up 3% from 2006 and up 4% from 2005.

The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49% of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 9.24 for the September-November 2007 period, compared to 9.11 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.40 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 9.30 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

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