More Breeding Hogs In Wyoming; Fewer Market Hogs

Wyoming: The December 1, 2006 inventory of all hogs and pigs in Wyoming totaled 100,000 head, compared with 105,000 head a year earlier, according to Vito Wagner with the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS. Breeding inventory was up 6,000 head from last year to 25,000 which was the largest number of breeding hogs on December 1 since 2000. But, at 75,000 head, there were 11,000 fewer market hogs. The market hogs on hand consisted of 27,000 head (36%) under 60 pounds, 20,000 (27%) weighing between 60 and 119 pounds, 13,000 (17%) between 120 and 179 pounds and 15,000 (20%) weighing 180 pounds and over.

A total of 43,500 sows farrowed during the 12 month period ending December 1, 2006. The average pigs saved per litter was 8.7 for an annual pig crop of 377,000 pigs. The pig crop was down 2 percent from the same period a year earlier, when 44,000 sows farrowed 384,000 pigs.

United States: U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2006 was 62.1 million head, up 1 percent from December 1, 2005, but down 1 percent from September 1, 2006. Breeding inventory, at 6.09 million head, was up 1 percent from last year and up slightly from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 56.1 million head, was up 1 percent from last year but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The September-November 2006 U.S. pig crop, at 26.6 million head, was up 1 percent from 2005 and up 3 percent from 2004. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.91 million head, up slightly from last year. The annual U.S. pig crop for the 12 months ending December 1, 2006 totaled 105.4 million pigs, up 1 percent from a year earlier.