As of Sept.1, there were 76.5 million hogs and pigs on United States farms, up slightly from September 2023 and up 2% from June 1, 2024, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published Sept. 26 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The breeding inventory, at 6.04 million head, was down 2% from last year, but up 1% from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 70.4 million head, was up 1% from last year, and up 2% from last quarter.
The June to August 2024 pig crop,at 35 million head, was down 1% from 2023. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.99 million head, down 2% from 2023. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50% of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.72 for the June to August period, compared to 11.61 last year.
U.S. hog producersintend to have 2.96 million sows farrow during the September to November quarter, down slightly from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, and down 4% from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for December 2024 to February 2025, at 2.93 million sows, are up slightly from the same period one year earlier, but down 1% from the same period two years earlier. The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 53% of the total U.S. hog inventory, up 1% from the previous year.
All inventory and pig crop estimates for September 2023 through June 2024 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data. The revision made to the June 2024 all hogs and pigs inventory was 1%. A revision of 0.3% was made to the March to May 2024 pig crop. A net revision of 0.2% was made to the March 2024 all hogs and pigs inventory. The net revision made to the December 2023 to February 2024 pig crop was 1.8%.
Other key findings in the report were:
- Of the 76.5 million hogs and pigs, 70.4 million were market hogs, while 6.04 million were kept for breeding.
- Between June and August 2024, 35 million pigs were weaned on U.S. farms, down 1% from the same time period one year earlier.
- From June through September 2024, U.S. hog and pig producers weaned an average of 11.72 pigs per litter.
- U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.96 million sows farrow between September and November 2024, and 2.93 million sows farrow between December 2024 and February 2025.
- Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the states, at 25.5 million head. Minnesota had the second largest inventory at 9.4 million head. North Carolina was third with 8.2 million head.
Notable reports from the High Plains region
Nebraska inventoryof all hogs and pigs on Sept 1, was 3.65 million head. This was down 4% from Sept. 1, 2023, but unchanged from June 1, 2024. Breeding hog inventory, at 420,000 head, was up 2% from Sept. 1, 2023, and up 8% from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 3.23 million head, was down 5% from last year, and down 1% from last quarter. The June to August 2024 Nebraska pig crop, at 2.22 million head, was up 2% from 2023. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 190,000 head, up 3% from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.7 for the June to August period, compared to 11.8 last year. Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 190,000 sows during the September to November 2024 quarter, up 3% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for December 2024 to February 2025 are 190,000 sows, unchanged from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.
Kansas inventoryof all hogs and pigs on was 1.98 million head. This was down 1% from Sept. 1, 2023, and down 2% from June 1, 2024. Breeding hog inventory,at 170,000 head, was down 3% from Sept. 1, 2023, but unchanged from last quarter. Market hog inventory,at 1.81 million head, was down slightly from last year, and down 2% from last quarter. The June to August 2024 Kansas pig crop,at 1.01 million head, was up 4% from 2023. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 85,000 head, down 2% from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.9 for the June to August period, compared to 11.2 last year. Kansas hog producersintend to farrow 85,000 sows during the September to November 2024 quarter, up 2% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for December 2024 to February 2025 are 78,000 sows, down 8% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.
Oklahoma hog and pig inventory, at 2.13 million head, was 6% lower than September 2023. The number of breeding hogstotaled 470,000 head, up 10,000 head from last year. The Sept. 1 market hoginventory was down 8% from a year ago at 1.66 million head, 78% of the total hog and pig inventory. The June to August Oklahoma pig croptotaled 2.29 million head, 1% above last year. The pigs per litter averaged 11.2, up 1% from the previous year. Sows farrowed during June 2024 through August 2024 totaled 205,000 head, unchanged from last year.
Texas hog and pig inventory, at 1.13 million head, was 7% lower than September 2023. The number of breeding hogstotaled 150,000 head, down 10,000 head from last year. The Sept. 1 market hoginventory was down 7% from a year ago at 980,000 head, 87% of the total hog and pig inventory. The June to August Texas pig croptotaled 762,000 head, 19% below last year. The pigs per litter averaged 11.2, down 2% from the previous year. Sows farrowed during June to August totaled 68,000 head, down 17% from last year.
The South Dakota inventoryof all hogs and pigs was 2.26 million head— up 2% from Sept. 1, 2023, but down slightly from June 1, 2024. The breeding hog inventory, at 320,000 head, was unchanged from Sept. 1, 2023, but down 4% from last quarter. The market hog inventory, at 1.94 million head, was up 2% from last year, and up slightly from last quarter. The June to August South Dakota pig crop, at 2.07 million head, was up 11% from 2023. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 157,000 head, up 6% from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 13.20 for the June to August period, compared to 12.60 last year. South Dakota hog producersintend to farrow 155,000 sows during the September to November 2024 quarter, up 1% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for December 2024 to February 2025 are 153,000 sows, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.
Colorado inventory of all hogs and pigswas 630,000 head on Sept. 1, down 3% from June 1, but up 3% from a year ago. The breeding inventory, at 140,000 head, was down 25,000 head, or 15%, from the previous quarter but was unchanged from last year. The market hog inventory, at 490,000 head, was up 5,000 head, or 1%, from last quarter and up 20,000 head, or 4%, from last year. The June to 2024 pig crop, at 710,000 head, was up 8% from the previous year. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 64,000 head, up 1,000 head from a year ago. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.1 for the June to August period, compared with 10.40 last year.
To obtain an accurate measurement of the U.S. swine industry, NASS surveyed 4,535 operators across the nation during the first half of September. The data collected were received online through NASS’s Respondent Portal, by mail, telephone and through face-to-face interviews. The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
