United States hog inventory up

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2018 was 72.9 million head. This was up 3 percent from March 1, 2017, but down 1 percent from December 1, 2017.

Breeding inventory, at 6.20 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 66.7 million head, was up 3 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The December - February 2018 pig crop, at 32.3 million head, was up 4 percent from 2017. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.06 million head, up 2 percent from 2017. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high of 10.58 for the December - February period, compared to 10.43 last year.