The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report which showed a total of 65.4 million head of hogs and pigs in the U.S. on Sept. 1, 2014.  This inventory level is 2% below September 2013 but 6% higher than June 2014 (figure).

The breeding herd inventory was pegged at 5.92 million head, up 2% from last year.

In addition, the pig crop for June-August 2014 was 29.5 million head, up 1% from 2013.  Sows farrowing for this period were also up 1% from a year ago.  Moreover, the average pig saved per litter was 10.16 for the summer months.

Hog producers in the U.S. intend to have 2.89 million sows farrow during the upcoming quarter and 2.87 million sows for December-February 2015, both up 4% from the previous year.

Although the inventory of market hogs was down 3% from 2013 at 59.4 million head, it is still 7% above last quarter.

With 20.7 million head, Iowa hog producers had the largest inventory among the states. North Carolina and Minnesota had the second and third largest inventories with 8.4 million and 7.7 million head, respectively.

While the national hogs and pigs inventory is down from September 2013, growers in Texas and South Dakota have increased the number of hogs and pigs in their states.

Market participants prior to the release of the report were anticipating expansion is on the horizon.  The USDA overall U.S. hog inventory was reported slightly higher than pre-report estimates while breeding and market hog inventory was parallel with projections.