Number of sows weaned in the United States significantly lower

The total number of pigs amounted to 1 million pigs on September 2021, 75,4. That is 4% less than on September 1, 2020, but 1% more than on June 1 last. Last summer, the number of pigs peaked, partly due to corona-related capacity problems in American slaughterhouses. In response to this, the livestock population was subsequently reduced. Also livestock farmers suffered the consequences of a new strain of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS virus). This led to increased losses among sows and piglets left and right.

Number of sows significantly reduced
3,05 million sows were weaned in the past quarter. That was no less than 7% less than in the same quarter last year. In the count, pig farmers were also asked about the number of sows to be weaned in the current quarter. The number is expected to be exactly 3 million for the period September to October. That is 4% less than the same period last year, and 6% less than the same period in 2019.

The number of piglets and fattening pigs also decreased, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. The number of 'market hogs' decreased by more than 4% to a total of 69,16 million units (2020: 72,1 million). That is slightly more than the number counted on June 1 this year. At that time, there were 68,18 million piglets and pigs on American pig farms.

The futures market is increasing considerably
The figures show a stronger contraction than previously anticipated. The supply of pigs in the coming six months will be smaller than previously thought. The futures market for fattening pigs in the United States has therefore shown a strong recovery in recent trading days. The contract for December delivery rose from approximately $1,61 per kilo carcass weight in the middle of last week to $1,79 on Tuesday, September 29. The contraction in US production may also ease the situation on the crowded global pork market. The country is the number 2 pork exporter worldwide.