US pig stock shrinks faster than expected

Pig numbers in the United States have fallen significantly in the past year. The contraction is also greater than expected, but it does require a caveat. 

As of December 1, the United States had 74,2 million pigs, according to new figures from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is a decrease of 4% compared to the same period last year and 1% compared to the September census. This means that the decrease is greater than what analysts had anticipated in advance.

Throws down 
The number of breeding sows that have farrowed from September to November is 3 million. This is 5% less than the same period last year. The average litter size did increase: by 0,14 to 11,19 piglets per sow. Based on the decreased pig numbers, analysts expect slaughter figures to be lower in the coming months.

The decline, however, deserves a nuance. Last year, the size of the U.S. pig herd soared to an all-time high. This as a result of the corona virus, as a result of which slaughterhouses were shut down. As a result, millions of pigs were forced to be culled.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is Head of Meat & Dairy at BoerenbusinessAt DCA Market Intelligence, he focuses on dairy, pork, and meat markets. He also monitors (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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