Reduction of pig stocks continues

For a year now, the quarterly surveys have been reporting declining animal numbers compared to the previous year; the boom times in US pork production appear to be over for the time being. Recently, declines in all weight categories were recorded. In relative terms, the largest herd reductions compared to September 2020 were in piglets up to 23 kg, down 5.6% to 21.86 million head, and in runners up to 54 kg, down 6.0% to 19.75 million head.

The fattening pig population was reduced by 1.4 % to 27.56 million head. The number of sows kept was also down, by 143 000 head or 2.3% to 6.19 million head; this was the lowest September level since 2017. The USDA expects just over 4% fewer sows to farrow from September to November than in the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile, the declining pig herd is also making itself increasingly felt with lower pork production. According to the USDA, about half a million animals or 4.6% fewer were slaughtered in August than in the same month last year; from January to August, the supply of slaughter pigs was down by 1.09 million animals or 1.3% to 84.94 million head.

For the year as a whole, the USDA's most recent September forecast - prior to the release of livestock census results - projected that US pork production would decline by 2.0% from 2020 levels to 12.58 million; this would be the first decline since 2014.