United States and Canadian hog inventory down 4 percent

U.S. and Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs for March 2009 was 77.3 million head. This was down 4 percent from March 2008 but up 1 percent from March 2007. The breeding inventory, at 7.39 million head, was down 4 percent from a year ago and down 1 percent from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 69.9 million head, was down 4 percent from last year and down 2 percent from last quarter. The pig crop, at 35.6 million head, was down 2 percent from 2008 but up 3 percent from 2007. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 3.73 million head, down 4 percent from last year.