Indiana hog numbers drop in second quarter

STILLWATER, Okla. — What is Steve Meyer’s prescription for the U.S. pork industry to get back to profitability?

“Better demand, lower costs, fewer pigs,” said the senior economist with Ever.Ag.

“We haven’t done much on costs, that’s not really our doing, but that’s the way it is. Demand has not perked back up to 2020 and 2021 levels, even though it’s not terrible,” he said.

“So far, we really haven’t done much on supplies and that’s really what this Hogs and Pigs report tells us,” said Meyer during a webinar following the release of the second quarter U.S. Department of Agriculture Hogs and Pigs report on June 27.

Indiana pork producers are doing their part to reduce U.S. hog numbers across the board, with numbers down from the same time last year in almost every category.

The all hogs and pigs inventory in Indiana as of June 1 stood at 4.4 million, down 50,000 from a year ago.

The Indiana breeding herd was 250,000 head, down 4% from the same time a year ago. The Indiana market hog herd was at 4.15 million as of June 1, down 1% from a year ago.

The Indiana pigs saved per litter for the March-May period was 11.55, up from 11.10 a year ago, one of the only areas that saw an increase in Indiana.

March-May farrowings were 120,000 head, down from 125,000 a year ago. June-August farrowing intentions are 125,000 head, down from 135,000 actual farrowings the same period a year ago.

September-November farrowing intentions are 125,000 head, even with actual farrowings of 125,000 a year ago.

The Indiana pig crop for March-May was 1.386 million head, down from 1.388 million a year ago.

The market hog weight categories:

• Under 50 pounds — 1.05 million, down from 1.08 million a year ago.

• 50 to 119 pounds — 1.23 million, down from 1.26 million a year ago.

• 120 to 179 pounds — 970,000, down from 980,000 a year ago.

• 180 pounds and over — 900,000, up from 870,000 a year ago.