By Cheryl Day

It is a story stuck on repeat — more hogs, more hogs and more hogs. In the latest quarterly Hogs and Pigs report released Sept. 28 by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, all hogs and pigs inventory, market hogs, pig crop and pigs per litter reached fresh new highs for the quarter.

On Sept. 1, the U.S. hog herd stands at 73.5 million head, a 2% increase from a year ago and a 3% jump from the previous quarter. Breeding inventory, at 6.09 million head, was up 1% from last year whereas market hog inventory, at 67.5 million head, was up 3% from last year.

Although it appears the U.S. hog industry is expanding aggressively to fill the increased packing capacity, it is actually at a more controlled level. “The industry is growing, but at a measured pace. By doing that it is avoiding the pitfalls of the past,” explains Altin Kalo, Steiner Consulting Group senior analyst.

Looking at the reported numbers, the breeding herd inventory over the past several quarters has only increased by 1-2%. Yet, the farrowings pencil higher than expected from the June quarterly report. The record pigs saved per litter coupled with increased farrowings, solidifying U.S. excellent productivity, boosting more pounds of pork.

Still, the United States is ready to handle more hogs as two new processing plants started operations on Sept. 5. In the past few weeks, the weekly slaughter at 460,000 head has crushed last year’s record, and large weekly slaughter numbers are anticipated to continue throughout the fall.

Kevin Grier, president of Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting from Guelph, Ontario, Canada, says the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in Manitoba will decrease the number of market pigs. As result of the outbreak, roughly 10,000 fewer feeder pigs are not entering the United States weekly to be finished in Iowa or Minnesota. While the number seems insignificant in the grand scheme, some processors are experiencing a shortage in contracted hogs. 

What about demand?

Despite more pigs in the production chain, prices are steady keeping America’s pig farmers profitable during this expansion phase. “Looking from the outside, you can see it as a confident, robust industry,” says Grier.

“The volume of production and slaughter capacity is extraordinary, but at the same time the price levels, relative to supply, are good,” explains Grier. “The only possible explanation is demand. It is not just export demand but North American domestic demand for pork is very good and encouraging.”

Record production and record processing means packers have a big job in selling pork, especially in the global marketplace. As the European Union seals the deal on the recent free trade agreement with Japan, the EU will threaten U.S. market share in the Asian market.

Overall, the report tells us that the U.S. pork industry continues to grow, notes Ron Plain, professor emeritus, University of Missouri-Columbia.  “Bottom line, the industry is alive and well.  The slaughter capacity gives us room to grow production. I think we are going to make sure there are enough hogs to keep those employees in the new plants busy,” concludes Plain.

Quarterly Hogs and Pig report recap: