Hogs and Pigs Report Released

According to the latest USDA quarterly hogs and pigs report, the total swine inventory was larger than expected. As of December 1, hog numbers totaled 75.5 million head. That’s one percent higher than a year ago and the trade was expecting a downturn. The supply of market hogs rose nearly one percent, and the breeding herd inventory was down one percent from a year ago. The market hog inventory was larger than expected and the breeding inventory was below pre-report estimates. In the September-through-November period, the number of pigs saved per litter was a record 11.9. This is the 17^th straight quarter with a record pigs per litter figure.