sd-crop-livestock

NEWS RELEASE
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
South Dakota Field Office - Sioux Falls, SD

Media contact: South Dakota Office, 605/323-6500
Email:  nass-sd@nass.usda.gov


HOG NUMBERS ABOVE LAST YEAR


SIOUX FALLS, March 31, 2006 -- The state’s March 1 inventory of 
all hogs and pigs was 1.44 million head, up 6 percent from one 
year ago but 3 percent below last quarter, according to the 
South Dakota office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics 
Service.

Breeding stock totaled 155,000 head, up 7 percent from March 2005.  
Market hogs totaled 1,285,000 head, up 6 percent from last year.

The December through February pig crop was 714,000 head, up 5 
percent from 677,000 head last year.  During the quarter 76,000 
sows farrowed, up 6 percent from 2005.  Pigs per litter averaged 
9.40, unchanged from the previous year.  Producers intend to 
farrow 83,000 sows during March through May, 11 percent above the
 actual farrowings a year ago.  Intentions for June through 
August are 80,000 sows, up from 71,000 actual farrowings one year 
earlier.


Access this complete report at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/php-bb/2006/hgpg0306.pdf