“Breeding herd size and expected farrowings offer some direction for supply later in 2023. The modest increase from 2021 suggests gilt retention during the Sept-Nov quarter improved compared to the same period last year.”
— Altin Kalo | Steiner Consulting Group
“Assuming the breeding herd in the Dec. report is correct at 100.5% of its year-ago level and that kind of growth persists this year, 4th quarter slaughter could be as much as 3% higher than 2022. I believe breakeven costs for average producers will remain in the mid-$90s/cwt. carcass for at least the first 3 quarters of 2023.”
— Dr. Steve Meyer | Partners for Production Agriculture (now part of EverAg)
This report shows U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs as of Dec. 1. Key highlights include:
- All hogs and pigs inventory was 73.1 million head – down 2% from last year, and down 1% from Sept 2022
- Breeding inventory was at 6.15 million head – up slightly from the previous quarter and last year
- Market hog inventory was 67.0 million head – down 2% from last year and down 1% from last quarter
- Sept-Nov 2022 pig crop was at 33.7 million head – down 1% from last year
- Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.00 million head – down 1% from last year, representing 49% of the breeding herd
