Hog Expansion Continues

WASHINGTON - Feb 14/08 - SNS -- U.S. and Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs for December 2007 was 79.1 million head, according to a joint release from the USDA and Statistics Canada. This was up 2% from December 2006 and up 3% from December 2005.

The breeding inventory, at 7.71 million head, was up 1% from a year ago, and up slightly from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 71.4 million head, was up 2% from last year but down 1% from last quarter. The pig crop, at 36.2 million head, was up 3% from 2006 and up 5% from 2005. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 3.87 million head, up 2% from last year.

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2007 was 65.1 million head. This was up 4% from December 1, 2006, and up 6% from December 1, 2005. The 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 pig crop, at 28.0 million head, was up 4% from 2006 and up 7% from 2005. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 3.03 million head, up 3% from last year.

Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs on January 1, 2008 was 14.0 million head. This was down 6% from January 1, 2007 and down 7% from January 1, 2006. The breeding inventory, at 1.55 million head, was down 2% from last year and down slightly from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 12.5 million head, was down 7% from last year and down 3% from last quarter. The pig crop, at 8.20 million head, was down slightly from 2007 and 2006. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 837,000 head, down 1% from last year.

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