News

Combined U.S./Canada hog herd higher

The combined U.S. and Canadian hog herd is larger than last year.

The USDA and Statistics Canada say the joint supply of 88.481 million head in June 2024 was up 1% from June 2023.

That included a 2% rise in the market hog inventory, which canceled out a 3% decline in the breeding herd, with the number of sows farrowed also below year ago levels, pointing to tighter supplies.

The overall pig crop did increase, but with a gain in the U.S. canceling out a loss in Canada.

The numbers are largely factored into current cash prices, but could be supportive long-term because of those tighter projected supplies.