Hog inventory rises

SIOUX FALLS – South Dakota inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1 was 1.32 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was up 9 percent from June 1, 2014, and up 2 percent from March 1, 2015.

Breeding hog inventory, at 170,000 head, was down 3 percent from June 1, 2014, but up 3 percent from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 1.15 million head, was up 11 percent from last year, and up 1 percent from last quarter.

The March – May 2015 South Dakota pig crop, at 942,000 head, was down 2 percent from 2014. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 86,000 head, down 4 percent from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.95 for the March – May period, compared to 10.70 last year.

South Dakota hog producers intend to farrow 87,000 sows during the June – August 2015 quarter, down 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for September – November 2015 are 86,000 sows, unchanged from the actual farrowings during the same period the previous year.