US hog inventory edges lower; productivity ticks up

The U.S. hog and pig inventory totaled 73.7 million head as of June 1, down slightly from a year earlier and from March, USDA said Thursday in its quarterly report. Market hogs accounted for 67.8 million head, while 5.88 million were kept for breeding, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Despite the smaller herd, production indicators improved. Producers weaned 33.5 million pigs from March through May, slightly above last year, with an average of 11.87 pigs per litter. Looking ahead, producers intend to farrow 2.90 million sows from June through August and 2.89 million from September through November. Iowa remained the top hog-producing state with 24.7 million head, followed by Minnesota and North Carolina. The report reflects modest herd contraction alongside continued gains in efficiency.