As of March 1, there were 74.6 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up 1% from March 2023 but down 2% from Dec. 1, 2023, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Other key findings in the report were:
- Of the 74.6 million hogs and pigs, 68.6 million were market hogs, while 6.02 million were kept for breeding.
- Between December 2023 and February 2024, 33.1 million pigs were weaned on U.S. farms, up 2% from the same time period one year earlier.
- From December 2023 through February 2024, U.S. hog and pig producers weaned an average of 11.53 pigs per litter.
- U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.92 million sows farrow between March and May 2024, and 2.99 million sows farrow between June and August 2024.
- Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the states, at 25.2 million head. Minnesota had the second largest inventory at 9.10 million head. North Carolina was third with 7.40 million head.
To obtain an accurate measurement of the U.S. swine industry, NASS surveyed 4,509 operators across the nation during the first half of March. The data collected were received online through NASS’s Respondent Portal, by mail, telephone and through face-to-face interviews.
Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2024, was 3.75 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was up 4% from March 1, 2023, but down 1% from December 1, 2023.
Breeding hog inventory, at 410,000 head, was up 4% from March 1, 2023, and up 3% from last
quarter. Market hog inventory, at 3.34 million head, was up 4% from last year, but down 2%
from last quarter.
The December 2023 – February 2024 Nebraska pig crop, at 2.24 million head, was up 11%
from 2023. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 185,000 head, up 3% from last year. The
average pigs saved per litter was 12.10 for the December – February period, compared to
11.25 last year.
Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 175,000 sows during the March – May 2024 quarter,
down 3% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for
June – August 2024 are 185,000 sows, unchanged from the actual farrowings during the same
period a year ago.
Kansas inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2024, was 1.97 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was up 6% from March 1, 2023, but down 1% from December 1, 2023.
Breeding hog inventory, at 175,000 head, was up 17% from March 1, 2023, and up 3% from
last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 1.80 million head, was up 5% from last year, but down
1% from last quarter.
The December 2023 – February 2024 Kansas pig crop, at 970,000 head, was up 18% from 2023.
Sows farrowed during the period totaled 84,000 head, up 5% from last year. The average
pigs saved per litter was 11.55 for the December – February period, compared to 10.25 last year.
Kansas hog producers intend to farrow 80,000 sows during the March – May 2024 quarter,
unchanged from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings
for June – August 2024 are 86,000 sows, down 1% from the actual farrowings during the same
period a year ago.
