US hog inventory up 2% in December 2011

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2011, was 65.9 million head, up 2% from December 1, 2010, but down 1% from September 1, 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's quarterly report. Breeding inventory, at 5.8 million head, was up slightly from 2010 numbers, but down slightly from June through August 2011. Market hog inventory, at 60.1 million head, was up 2% from 2010, but down 1% from the third quarter of 2011. The September-November 2011 pig crop, at 29 million head, was up 2% from 2010 numbers. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.89 million head, up slightly from 2010. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50% of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.02 for the September-November 2011 period, compared to 9.89 in 2010. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.4 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.1 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.