Market News & Headlines >> U.S. Hog Herd Seen Up Again

The livestock trade is expecting Thursday afternoon’s quarterly USDA Hogs and Pigs report to peg the overall Sept. 1 U.S. hog herd 2.5% larger than a year earlier and indicate continuing expansion of the breeding herd.

Pre-report trade estimates of all hogs and pigs as of Sept. 1 average 102.5% of a year earlier in a range from 101.7%-103.3%, according to a survey of eight analysts by Reuters News Service. At the average of trade estimates, the Sept. 1 hog herd would total 73.647 million head, 71.866 million head a year earlier. 

Trade expectations for the number of hogs retained for breeding purposes average 101.2% of a year earlier in a range from 100.8%-101.5%, while estimates of the Sept. 1 market hog inventory average 102.5% of a year earlier in a range from 101.7%-103.5%. At the average of trade estimates, the Sept. 1 breeding herd would total 6.090 million head, up from 6.016 million a year earlier, while the market hog inventory would total 67.541 million head, up from 65.870 million a year earlier. 

On average, the trade sees the June-August pig crop coming in at 101.9% of a year earlier with estimates ranging from 100.3%-103.8%. Expectations for June-August farrowings average 100.9% of a year earlier in a range from 100.2%-102.0%, while expectations for the number of pigs per litter average 100.7% in a range form 100.0-101.4%. 

Estimates of September-November farrowings average 100.5% of a year earlier, while December-February farrowings, on average, are expected to be unchanged from a year earlier.