Missouri Market Hog Population Drops Nine Percent

USDA’s quarterly Hogs and Pigs report showed sizable declines in the national hog and pig population, including an eight-percent drop in Missouri compared to the previous year.  As of December first, Missouri producers had 3.45 million hogs on hand, 300,000 fewer than the same point in 2020.  The drop was nearly entirely among the market hogs, as all but 10,000 of the decline was in this population, at 3.02 million.  430,000 hogs were kept for breeding in the state.  Nationwide the hog population was down four percent at 74.2 million head, with all of the decline among the market hogs at just over 68 million head.  6.18 million hogs were kept for breeding.

220,000 sows in Missouri farrowed during the fall, down eight percent from a year ago.  However, pigs saved per litter increased slightly to 11.2, resulting in a Missouri pig crop of 2.28 million.  Over the past year, sows farrowing in Missouri dropped 13 percent to 880,000 head.  The state’s pig crop totaled 9.64 million head, down 14 percent, as a result of the pigs saved per litter rate falling to 10.95.  Missouri producers anticipate 445,000 sows to farrow in the next six months, a slight increase from the previous year.

Nationwide, seven percent fewer sows farrowed in the fall, with 3.05 million sows producing a pig crop of 33.9 million pigs.  While that was a drop of six percent from the previous year, the pigs saved per litter ratio increased to 11.13.  Pig crop totals in 2021 were down six percent at 132.9 million pigs from just over 12 million sows, with pigs saved per litter up slightly at 11.06.  About 5.95 million sows are expected to farrow in the next six months, 10,000 fewer than the same point a year ago.