United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2012 was 66.3 million head. This was down slightly from December 1, 2011, and down 2 percent from September 1, 2012.
Breeding inventory, at 5.82 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter.
Market hog inventory, at 60.5 million head, was down slightly from last year, and down 2 percent from last quarter. The September-November 2012 pig crop, at 29.4 million head, was up slightly from 2011. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.90 million head, down 1 percent from 2011. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.15 for the September-November period, compared to 10.02 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.
