“U.S. Swine Census: A Closer Look at the Hog and Pig Landscape in December 2023”
As of December 1, 2023, U.S. farms housed a total of 75.0 million hogs and pigs, a marginal increase from December 2022 but a slight decrease from September 1, 2023, as reported in the latest Quarterly Hogs and Pigs update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Breaking down the numbers, 69.0 million of these were market hogs, while 6.00 million were designated for breeding purposes. The period between September 2023 and November 2023 witnessed the weaning of 34.6 million pigs on U.S. farms, showing a modest dip compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
During this weaning period, U.S. hog and pig producers achieved an average of 11.66 pigs per litter, highlighting the industry’s efficiency. Looking ahead, U.S. hog producers have ambitious plans, intending to have 2.90 million sows farrow between December 2023 and February 2024, followed by 2.91 million sows farrowing between March and May 2024.
Geographically, Iowa took the lead with the largest hog and pig inventory among the states, boasting 24.9 million head. Minnesota secured the second position with 9.10 million head, while North Carolina claimed the third spot with 7.80 million head.
To compile an accurate representation of the U.S. swine industry, NASS conducted surveys with 6,341 operators nationwide in the first half of December. The comprehensive data collection utilized various methods, including electronic data recording, mail, telephone, and face-to-face interviews.
For those interested in delving deeper into the findings, the complete Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, along with other NASS reports, is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
