Market News & Headlines >> USDA Seen Reporting Further Hog Herd Liquidation

Wednesday afternoon’s quarterly USDA Hogs and Pigs report is expected to indicate continued liquidation of the U.S. hog herd and smaller market hog supplies ahead in 2021. 

Trade estimates of the overall Dec. 1 U.S. hog herd average 99.2% of a year earlier in a range from 97.2%-100.3%, according to a Bloomberg survey of 8 analysts.  At the average of trade estimates, the U.S. hog herd would be 78.435 million head, down from 79.048 million a year earlier. 

Pre-report estimates of the Dec. 1 breeding herd average 98.1% of a year earlier in a range from 97.2%-98.5%. At the average of trade estimates the number of sows kept for breeding would total 6.350 million head, down from 6.471 million a year earlier. 

 Pre-report expectations for the Dec. 1 market hog inventory average 99.3% of a year earlier in range from 97.1%-100.5%. At the average of trade expectations, the market hog inventory would equal 72.042 million head, down from 72.577 million a year earlier. 

On average, the September-November pig crop is expected to run 96.5% of a year earlier with trade estimates ranging from 95.2%-98.4% of a year earlier. 

Pre-report estimates of September-November farrowing intentions average 96.3% of a year earlier, while estimates of the number of pigs per litter average 100.2% of a year earlier. 

Trade expectations for December-February farrowing intentions average 98.1% of a year earlier, while expectations for March-May farrowing intentions average 98.6% of a year earlier.