mi-press-releases

News Release
NR-11-90
December 27, 2011

U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Michigan Field Office
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Post Office Box 30239
Lansing, MI  48909-6248

Phone:      (517) 324-5300
Facsimile:  (517) 324-5299
E-mail:     nass-mi@nass.usda.gov
Web site:   www.nass.usda.gov

Jay V. Johnson, Director

December Hogs and Pigs

Michigan's total hog and pig inventory on December 1 was estimated at 1.04 
million head, unchanged from a year ago, according to the USDA, NASS, 
Michigan Field Office. Breeding hog inventory, at 110,000 head, was unchanged 
from last December. Market hog inventory, at 930,000 head, was also unchanged 
from last year.

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2011 was 65.9 
million head. This was up 2 percent from December 1, 2010, but down 1 percent 
from September 1, 2011.  Breeding inventory, at 5.80 million head, was up 
slightly from last year, but down slightly from the previous quarter. Market 
hog inventory, at 60.1 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, but 
down 1 percent from last quarter. 

The September-November 2011 pig crop, at 29.0 million head, was up 2 percent 
from 2010. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.89 million head, up 
slightly from 2010. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 
percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record 
high 10.02 for the September-November period, compared to 9.89 last year. 
Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.40 for operations 
with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.10 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and 
pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.87 million sows farrow during 
the December 2011-February 2012 quarter, up 1 percent from the actual 
farrowings during the same period in 2011, but down slightly from 2010. 
Intended farrowings for March-May 2012, at 2.89 million sows, are down 1 
percent from 2011 and down 1 percent from 2010. 

    Hog inventory and farrowings: Michigan and United States, December 1, 2011    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :       Michigan       :            U.S.            
         Hogs and pigs        :---------------------------------------------------
                              : 2010 : 2011 : Change :  2010   :  2011   : Change 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              : 1,000 head   Percent   -- 1,000 head --   Percent 
                              :                                                   
Breeding                      :  110    110      0      5,778     5,803       0   
Market                        :  930    930      0     59,147    60,128       2   
  Under 50 pounds 1/          :  300    300      0     18,864    19,271       2   
  50-119 pounds 1/            :  240    200    -17     16,519    16,895       2   
  120-179 pounds              :  190    220     16     12,233    12,472       2   
  180+ pounds                 :  200    210      5     11,531    11,490       0   
Total                         :1,040  1,040      0     64,925    65,931       2   
                              :                                                   
Sows farrowed, Sep-Nov        :   52     52      0      2,881     2,894       0   
Pigs/litter, Sep-Nov          : 9.90  10.00      1       9.89     10.02       1   
Pig crop, Sep-Nov             :  515    520      1     28,488    29,014       2   
Sows farrowing, Dec-Feb 2/ 3/ :   51     51      0      2,843     2,865       1   
Sows farrowing, Mar-May 2/ 3/ :   53     51     -4      2,917     2,890      -1   
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1/  Size group definitions have been changed from 2008.                           
2/  Intentions.                                                                   
3/  Upcoming year.