The United States inventory of hogs and pigs on June 1, 2013 was 66.6 million head, which was down slightly from June 1, 2012, but up 2 percent from March 1, 2013, according to the USDA's Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report.
Breeding inventory, at 5.88 million head, was up slightly from 2012, 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.
US 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.
