News

CombinedU.S./Canada hog herd down 4%

The combined U.S./Canadian hog inventory for March was 77.274 million head, down 4% from the combined 80.218 million head in March2008, according to a joint report from the USDA and Statistics Canada. The year to year decline is due to global economic concerns, tight profit margins and high feed costs leading to herd liquidation. The March 2009 total also down from the previous quarter's total of 78.948 millionhead.

The total breeding inventory was 4% below a year ago at 7.394 million head and hogs kept for marketing were also 4% less than last year at 69.880 million head. Sows farrowings were reported at 3.728 million head, a 2% decline, and the pig crop was pegged at 35.605million head, down 2% on the year.