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Hog herd declines 1 percent from June USDA report

The USDA says the total number of hogs and pigs in the US has declined slightly as of September 1, 2020. 

The herd of 79.1 million head is down 1 percent from June 1, but still 1 percent above year-ago levels.  Market hog inventory declined 1 percent from last quarter but is 1 percent above last year’s numbers.  Breeding inventory is up from the second quarter of the year – but is 2 percent below last year. 

The June through August pig crop and the sows farrowed are both down 3 percent from 2019.

Looking ahead, US hog producers again intend to reduce farrowings for the final quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 as a result of ongoing demand and profitability concerns.  Intended farrowings for September through November are projected to drop 5 percent and January through March are forecasted 1 percent below year-ago levels.

The total number of contract hogs on operations larger than 5,000 head, accounts for 47 percent of the total US hog inventory.  That’s a decline of 1 percent from 2019.

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