U.S. breeding sow inventory remained above 6 million in December 2024

These are the highlights from the latest U.S. hog inventory report released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on December 23:

As of December 1, 2024, there were 75.8 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up 1% from December 2023, but down slightly (-0.3%) from September 1, 2024 (76.1 million)

Of the 75.8 million hogs and pigs, 69.8 million were market hogs, while 6.00 million were kept for breeding.

Between September and November 2024, 35.2 million pigs were weaned on U.S. farms, up 2% from the same time period one year earlier.

From September through November 2024, U.S. hog and pig producers weaned an average of 11.92 pigs per litter, up from 11.66 in the same period of 2023.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow between December 2024 and February 2025, and 2.95 million sows farrow between March 2025 and May 2025.

Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the states, at 24.6 million head. Minnesota had the second largest inventory at 9.50 million head. North Carolina was third with 8.20 million head.