The USDA says the U.S. hog and pig inventory on March 1st, 2021 was down 2% on the year at 74.73 million head. That was below what most analysts were expecting heading into this quarterly set of numbers.
The breeding herd was 3% less than a year ago at 6.215 million head and the market inventory fell 2% to 68.558 million head, also below pre-report expectations. The market inventory, by weight, showed hogs and pigs weighing less than 50 pounds at 21.288 million head and the 50-to-119 pound category at 19.118 million head, both 1% lower, with the 120 to 179 pound category at 14.705 million head and hogs and pigs weighing 180 pounds and heavier at 13.446 million head, both down 3%.
