By Jamie Martin
As reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, the U.S. hog and pig inventory has experienced a slight decrease.
As of March 1, 2025, the population stood at 74.5 million, marking a subtle reduction from the previous year and a 1% drop since December 2024.
The current inventory includes 68.5 million market hogs and approximately 5.98 million breeding hogs. A notable aspect of the report is the weaning of 33.7 million pigs between December 2024 and February 2025, a figure slightly lower than the year before, averaging about 11.65 pigs per litter.
Looking ahead, U.S. hog producers plan to have 2.91 million sows farrow during the March-May 2025 period, and 2.96 million in the following three months.
The state of Iowa remains the leader in hog production, boasting 24.3 million head, followed by Minnesota and North Carolina with 9.2 million and 8.1 million, respectively.
To ensure accuracy, the National Agricultural Statistics Service surveyed 4,455 operators across the nation, employing various data collection methods including online submissions, mail, telephone, and face-to-face interviews.
This meticulous approach underscores the importance of the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report in gauging the health and trends of the U.S. swine industry.
Photo Credit: istock-srdjan-stepic
Categories: National