South Dakota hog inventory down 9 percent

SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2013, was 1.18 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office. This was down 9 percent from March 1, 2012, and down 2 percent from December 1, 2012. Breeding hog inventory, at 175,000 head, was unchanged from March 1, 2012, but up 6 percent from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 1.01 million head, was down 10 percent from last year, and down 3 percent from last quarter.

The December 2012-February 2013 South Dakota pig crop, at 943,000 head, was up 5 percent from 2012. Sows farrowing during the period totaled 89,000 head, up 1 percent from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.60 for the December-February period, compared to 10.20 last year.

South Dakota hog producers intend to farrow 90,000 sows during the March-May 2013 quarter, down 5 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for June-August 2013 are 88,000 sows, down 7 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period the previous year.