North American Hog Number Slip

WASHINGTON - Oct 28/10 - SNS -- The number of hogs and pigs on hand in Canada and the United States as of the start of September was 76.8 million head, 2% from September 2009 and down 5% from September 2008, according to the joint release from the USDA and Statistics Canada.

The breeding inventory, at 7.07 million head, was down 2% from a year ago and down slightly from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 69.8 million head, was down 2% from last year but up 1% from last quarter. The pig crop, at 35.5 million head, was down 2% from 2009 and down 4% from 2008. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 3.61 million head, down 2% from 2009 and down 6% from 2008.

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2010 was 65.0 million head. This was down 3% from September 1, 2009 but up 1% from June 1, 2010. The breeding inventory, at 5.77 million head, was down 2% from last year and down slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 59.2 million head, was down 3% from last year but up 1% from last quarter. The pig crop, at 28.5 million head, was down 1% from 2009 and down 3% from 2008. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 2.91 million head, down 2% from 2009 and down 6% from 2008.