The United States' inventory of all hogs and pigs as of Dec. 1, 2010, came in at 64.3 million head, down 1% from the same time in 2009 and down 2% from September, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
The breeding inventory was at 5.78 million head, down 1% from 2009 but up slightly from last quarter. Market hog inventory (58.5 million head) was down 1% from 2009 and down 2% from the previous quarter. The average pigs saved per litter hit a record high for the September-November 2010 period, at 9.89 compared to 2009's 9.70.
U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.86 million sows farrow during the December 2010-February 2011 quarter, down 1% from 2009's actual numbers for the same quarter. Intended farrowings for the second quarter of 2011 are estimated at 2.86 million sows, down 2% from the same time period in the previous year.
