Feeder pigs

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $60.38, Up $3.16 From Last Week

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:52:12 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on May 8 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in October 2026 using December 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $60.38, up $3.16 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.64 per head, and December futures increased $1.20 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $86.49.

Week ending May 8

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 102,966 head being reported which is 138% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $77.08, down $0.83 from a week ago. The low to high range was $64 to $89. Cash prices were 93.63% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $1.02 this week at $62.44.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 14,596 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $108.55, down $4.36 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

Graph 1 - Seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

Graph 2 - Seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through May 8, 2026.

Graph 3- Cash weaner price and cash feeder price

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $3.99 this week to a projected loss of $16.70 per head.

Graph 4 - Estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $57.22, Down $7.05 From Last Week

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:26:24 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on May 1 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in October 2026 using December 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $57.22, down $7.05 for the week. Feed costs were up $1.70 per head, and December futures decreased $9.43 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is improved from last week by $6.88 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $83.33.

Figure 1 - Weaner Pig Breakeven on May 1, 2026

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 76,315 head being reported which is 103% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $77.91, up $1.68 from a week ago. The low to high range was $62 to $88. Cash prices were 90.13% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $0.85 this week at $63.46.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 24,275 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $112.91, down $4.11 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

Graph 1 - Seasonal Trends on May 1, 2026

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

Graph 2 - Seasonal trends on May 1, 2026

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through May 1.

Graph 3 - Cash Price Differences on May 1, 2026

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $8.73 this week to a projected loss of $20.69 per head.

Graph 4 - Profit Opportunity on May 1, 2026

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Hog Market Outlook: Why Dave Delaney Sees a Summer Rally and Undervalued Futures

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:51:30 GMT

Is the hog market tighter than the data suggest? Ever.Ag’s Dave Delaney joined AgriTalk to break down why disease outbreaks are curbing supply despite record-setting productivity in healthy herds. From “red hot” feeder pig prices to a predicted summer rally, Delaney explains why the October board may be significantly undervalued and why he is looking as far ahead as 2027 to lock in “huge” profit margins.

Slaughter Trends and Supply

Although USDA’s March Hogs and Pigs report expected a 2% increase in supply in 2026, year-to-date slaughter is only up 0.5% (when adjusted for slaughter days). However, Delaney expects higher slaughter numbers over the next few weeks.

“I think the next three to four weeks, we’re likely going to slaughter more than we did a year ago,” he says. “Part of that is some lagging finish hogs that were health challenged, and the growing weather here the last month has been extremely good. I think we’re pulling ahead some.”

The “Health Narrative” Tightens Supply

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) continue to cause significant litter losses and death loss in some systems.

“With PRRS, we don’t know what to expect. But with PED, you get that in the sow farm, and that’s a period of loss of litters and loss of pigs,” Delaney says. “When you combine those two, and some of the variation of strains and the strength of these strains, it’s gotten pretty bad.”

The supply tightness is reflected in “red-hot” prices, Flory points out. With 40-lb. feeder pigs hitting $125, and wean pigs trading roughly $31.50 higher than this time last year, Delaney agrees the health situation has tightened things up.

Productivity vs. Disease

The market is currently sending conflicting signals: high death loss in some barns versus a USDA report showing record pigs saved per litter. Delaney says both are true.

Delaney says there is definitely a “balancing act” occurring between record-high pigs saved per litter in healthy systems and the significant losses in health-challenged systems.

“The genetics we have in place continue to get better, and we see our production numbers continue to climb forward,” he explains. “Those systems not affected by health issues are pushing out numbers of pigs the last three weeks. It’s a balancing act. Does the bad overtake the good or the good overtake the bad? That’s something we face within this industry every day.”

Summer Rally Ahead?

Delaney is optimistic about summer prices, predicting a rally that could last through September. He specifically points to the October lean hog futures as being “way undervalued.”

“I think we’re going to have the ability to put in some solid hedges with triple digits in October, and that probably comes on the heels of when we get extremely short July to August,” Delaney says.

He says the current market structure where June settles below July and August trades at a premium to July is a pattern he expects to repeat.

What Delaney Watches in the Hog Market

Hog weights have been a little “erratic,” but he expects them to show the typical seasonal decline as summer heat approaches.

“The growing conditions and healthy herds have helped us,” Delaney says. “Growers open barns up and say, ‘Oh my goodness, these things average 308? I didn’t expect that.’”

He is keeping a close eye on kill levels now, watching the aggressiveness or lack of aggressiveness of packers.

“We’ve got a few packers that are out searching here every day,” Delaney says. “When multiple packers call on a Monday wanting pigs for Friday, rather than a week ahead, that’s going to be our first sign this thing’s tightening up.”

And on the backside of that, he’s paying attention to the cutout and the demand factor.

“Right now our demand is good, but it just feels steady right now,” he says.

Risk Management Strategy

Will the grilling season help? Flory says if American consumers get even more beef hungry than they already are, the beef market is going to be “on fire.”

Delaney remains cautious about locking in prices too early. He is waiting for a seasonal rise in fundamentals to re-establish hedges at higher levels.

“We had the opportunity once to put in some summer hedges at pretty good levels that were same or above year ago,” he says. “We’re looking at pulling hedges off and reestablishing it at higher prices. My thought process here short term is flat and steadyish, maybe a seasonal little incremental rise in the fundamentals.”

Delaney is looking as far out as the summer of 2027, noting that the projected margins available for producers are “huge.”

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $64.27, Up $3.23 From Last Week

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:55:14 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on April 24 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in October 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $64.27, up $3.23 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.29 per head, and October futures increased $1.68 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $90.38.

(Nutriquest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 89,100 head being reported which is 121% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $76.23, down $2.08 from a week ago. The low to high range was $67 to $90. Cash prices were 84.41% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $3.93 this week at $62.61.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 29,040 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $117.02, down $3.29 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through April 24.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $5.31 this week to a projected loss of $11.96 per head.

(Nutriquest
)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $61.04, Down $10.06 From Last Week

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:29:45 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and breakeven pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on April 17 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in October 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $61.04, down $10.06 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.91 per head, and October futures decreased $1.70 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is declined from last week by $2.66 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in breakeven considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $87.15.

(Nutriquest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 82,860 head being reported which is 113% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $78.31, down $2.68 from a week ago. The low to high range was $67 to $92. Cash prices were 86.70% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $3.18 this week at $66.54.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 22,950 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $120.31, down $6.25 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through April 17, 2026.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $7.38 this week to a projected loss of $17.27 per head.

(Nutriquest)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $71.10, Down $0.59 from Last Week

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:13:31 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on April 10 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in September 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $71.10, down $0.59 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.07 per head, and October futures decreased $0.25 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “Margin over variable costs,” which is $97.21.

(Nutriquest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 85,000 head being reported which is 118% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $80.99, up $0.91 from a week ago. The low to high range was $68 to $95. Cash prices were 88.71% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $1.76 this week at $63.36.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 21,800 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $126.56, up $0.09 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

Nutriquest

(Nutriquest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through April 10.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $1.50 this week to a projected loss of $9.89 per head.

(Nutriquest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest.NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com .

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $71.69, Down $9.36 from Last Week

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:06:40 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and breakeven pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on April 3, 2026 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in September 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $71.69, down $9.36 for the week. Feed costs were down $1.04 per head, and October futures decreased $0.85 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is declined from last week by $4.10 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $97.80.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 86,600 head being reported which is 121% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $80.08, down $1.01 from a week ago. The low to high range was $71 to $95. Cash prices were 87.19% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $1.63 this week at $65.12.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 23,489 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $126.47, down $0.20 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(World Pork Expo)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through April 3.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $8.35 this week to a projected loss of $8.39 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

What’s Driving Grow-Finish Profitability in 2026?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:35:51 GMT

Times change quickly. Fifteen years ago, a standard 2,400-head barn that cost $600,000 now requires aninvestment of nearly $1 million, points out Brad Eckberg, account executive at MTech Systems. With much of the U.S. finishing capacity built in the late 1990s and early 2000s reaching the end of its lifespan, the need is growing for expensive mechanical and structural overhauls.

“If you have an aging facility and want to do some remodels, I think there’s definitely a need for good space out there,” Randy Kuker, director of swine production for The Equity, explained during the recent State of the Pork Industry Report. “Where your challenge is going to be is if your facility is in an area where it’s surrounded by other pigs and has a lot of disease pressure, the value you’re going to get from integrators or even independent producers that want to use your facility is not going to be very high.”

With what he’s “hearing in the countryside,” porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) have been major issues brought up by people looking for spaces. Too much disease in an area is just too hard to manage.

“Health is king,” Eckberg agrees. “But ultimately, success in the wean-to-finish barn comes down to feed conversion and feed cost per pound of gain. Feed represents about 55% to 65% of the total cost of the pig, so keeping inputs low matters.”

However, he’s quick to point out that people in the barns at the slat level are key to making sure inputs stay low. For example, making sure no out-of-feed occurrences happen, keeping pens appropriately stocked and reducing stress on pigs that are being marketed can make a big difference.

Eckberg and Kuker joined Adam Annegers, JBS sow farm manager, and Cara Haden, DVM, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone, on the April 2026 State of the Pork Industry Report. They share tips for contract hog growers to consider this spring.

1. Focus on the first 48 hours.

The transition from the sow farm to the wean-to-finish barn is the most vulnerable time. Success depends on preventing dehydration and ensuring pigs find water and feed immediately.

For Annegers, spending time in the wean-to-finish barns recently has helped him gain a better perspective of the downstream cycle. He believes communication is key.

“Each group of pigs is going to be a little bit different from the last group whether that’s due to health status, diet change or a treatment plan,” he says. “Review the health document with that grower on the group of pigs that’s coming prior to their arrival.”

Make sure the barn is ready to receive pigs from the temperature to ventilation to having the right diet ready to go, he adds.

“The most important thing to do when the pigs arrive is to make sure the pigs don’t get dehydrated,” Annegers says. “They’re used to having mom’s milk right there available to them, so making sure they find water and get started. Have the mats ready for mat feeding multiple times a day. And don’t just throw feed on the mat; get the pigs up and moving.”

2. Better biosecurity equals better production.

Disease management remains one of the most significant operational risks for all pig farmers, contract growers alike. Kuker says he has heard of three sow farms in the past few weeks that have experienced outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“From what I’m being told, it’s a pretty bad one,” Kuker says. “High mortality, high abortion rate and then those pigs end up in the finishers. It’s very frustrating for those growers because it doesn’t seem like any antibiotic strategy is doing the pigs much good. It’s rather disheartening.”

He says it’s resulting in the producers and pig owners adding a lot of cost to manage with very few results.

“There’s not much the growers can do,” Kuker says. “The ones who end up getting those pigs just have to deal with it. The veterinarians have a good plan to transition those sows back to healthy pigs, but it’s hard when you know that group of pigs you’re getting is going to be a challenge, take a lot of work and not get anywhere close to the results you want.”

The Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) break from a couple years ago really opened producers’ eyes to ‘Oh, wow. We’re actually moving stuff around in grow-finish on people and equipment,’ Haden says. She believes as the industry moves toward disease elimination with the National Swine Health Strategy, the pressure will increase on grow-finish sites to do the same.

The better biosecurity is in your barn, the better your production will be, Haden adds. In a recent cost of disease project funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and the Swine Health Information Center, they’ve been doing some testing and biosecurity scoring to help determine production impact.

“We’re starting to see some very clear ties between better biosecurity and better production,” she says.

Eckberg says that it’s not hard to see how better biosecurity will also improve key performance indicators.

“Think about it – I’ve got healthy pigs so from a cost standpoint, I’ve got fewer medication costs,” Eckberg says. “I’ve got lower mortality so my labor retainment is higher. I’ve got improved average daily gain because they’re not sick. You name the metric – across the board – production will be better because of better biosecurity and better health.”

3. Look into manure as a strategic asset.

Manure is no longer just a byproduct; it is a significant revenue stream, Kuker says.

“We’re seeing a shift, especially with guys that were looking at expanding their operations or adding another facility, to look into ways to create more revenue from manure,” Kuker says. “Depending on your situation, if you’ve got a neighbor or somebody who wants that manure, we’ve got some people benefiting in the $3 to $5 range per pig space from it. On a 4,000-head site, that could generate $20,000 a year in income for that barn owner.”

Kuker says he is also hearing more and more talk about manure technologies. At a recent grower meeting, he learned about a manure separation process where solids are separated from the liquid. Then, the liquid can be set up to go into a planter for more precise and concentrated manure treatment.

“They are looking at 30 gallons per acre on that application and sometimes seeing an 18-bushel increase in yield by using that specific treatment,” he says. “We also heard about a farmer over in Indiana who was willing to pay $1 a gallon and wanted a million gallons of this stuff. There are definitely opportunities out there on the organic side for this fertilizer. And with the current prices where they are, I think you’re going to see more of this by people looking to branch out in their operations.”

4. Boost truck biosecurity.

“It feels like we control everything at the sow farm, we’re talking about improvements in biosecurity at grow-finish sites, but then we’ve got this black box of transport that’s often not something that we manage,” Haden points out. “A lot of times, it’s a third-party vendor and it’s out of our control.”

Washing and properly drying trucks is not an easy job, she says. In fact, it’s a big ask to get a truck and trailer perfectly clean every time.

“There are a lot of things that have to go right to get that done perfectly,” Haden says. “How do we verify that on a regular basis? How can we make sure every single trailer comes out clean?”

She believes truck audits and verification are a gap in the pork industry that needs to be focused on moving forward to be successful.

Watch the full report here.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $81.05, Down $4.68 from Last Week

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:25:16 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on March 27 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in September 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $81.05, up $4.68 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.80 per head, and October futures increased $1.85 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “Margin over variable costs,” which is $107.16.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 96,970 head being reported which is 137% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $81.09, down $7.97 from a week ago. The low to high range was $62 to $100. Cash prices were 88.77% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $0.45 this week at $63.49.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 30,815 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $126.67, down $0.69 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through March 27.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $12.65 this week to a projected loss of $0.04 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $76.37, Down $18.89 From Last Week

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:09:50 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on March 20 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in September 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $76.37, down $18.89 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.12 per head, and October futures decreased $1.63 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is declined from last week by $7.31 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $102.48.
Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 44,625 head being reported which is 64% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $89.06, down $0.61 from a week ago. The low to high range was $66 to $105. Cash prices were 97.61% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $14.69 this week at $63.94.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 15,945 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $127.36, up $1.30 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through March 20.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $18.28 this week to a projected loss of $12.69 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $95.26, Down $5.03 From Last Week

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:34:28 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on March 13 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in August 2026 using October 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $95.26, down $5.03 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.56 per head, and October futures decreased $2.13 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $121.37.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 88,851 head being reported which is 126% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $89.67, down $11.72 from a week ago. The low to high range was $74 to $118. Cash prices were 96.30% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $4.26 this week at $78.63.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 21,500 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $126.06, up $2.95 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through March 13.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $6.69 this week to a projected gain of $5.59 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $109.30, Up $2.64 From Last Week

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:41:40 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Feb. 27 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in August 2026 using August 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $109.30, up $2.64 for the week. Feed costs were up $1.09 per head, and August futures increased $1.78 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $135.41.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 85,350 head being reported which is 123% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $102.43, down $6.99 from a week ago. The low to high range was $84 to $124. Cash prices were 93.38% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $1.77 this week at $76.86.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 23,750 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $125.88, down $0.73 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Feb. 27.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $9.63 this week to a projected gain of $6.87 per head.

(NutriQuest
)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $106.67, Up $10.66 From Last Week

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:52:38 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Feb. 20 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in August 2026 using August 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $106.67, up $10.66 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.53 per head, and August futures increased $3.53 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is improved from last week by $1.80 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $132.78.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 85,835 head being reported which is 124% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $109.42, down $0.72 from a week ago. The low to high range was $88 to $125. Cash prices were 102.23% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $5.42 this week at $75.09.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 26,870 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $126.61, up $2.42 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Feb. 20.

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $11.38 this week to a projected loss of $2.75 per head.

(NutriQuest
)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $96.00, Down $11.13 From Last Week

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:26:33 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Feb. 13 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in July 2026 using August 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $96.00, down $11.13 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.84 per head, and August futures decreased $4.90 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $122.11.

(Nutriquest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 44,860 head being reported which is 65% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $110.14, up $2.14 from a week ago. The low to high range was $88 to $123.Cash prices were 102.24% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $6.81 this week at $69.67.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 8,820 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $124.19, up $1.05 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Feb. 13.

(Nutriquest
)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $13.27 this week to a projected loss of $14.14 per head.

(Nutriquest
)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest.NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com .

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $103.58, Up $2.28 From Last Week

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:26:57 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Jan. 30 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in July 2026 using August 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $103.58, up $2.28 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.47 per head, and August futures decreased $1.10 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is improved from last week by $1.96 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $129.69.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 36,018 head being reported which is 52% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $107.64, up $7.61 from a week ago. The low to high range was $89 to $118. Cash prices were 99.09% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $5.44 this week at $74.12.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 17,100 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $125.11, up $7.38 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Jan. 30.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $5.33 this week to a projected loss of $4.06 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $99.57, Up $5.64 from Last Week

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:57:04 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Jan. 16 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in July 2026 using July 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $99.57, up $5.64 for the week. Feed costs were down $2.63 per head, and July futures increased $2.28 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is declined from last week by $0.84 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $125.68.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 43,375 head being reported which is 62% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $90.97, up $7.64 from a week ago. The low to high range was $75 to $100. Cash prices were 85.23% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $2.39 this week at $70.41.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 6,625 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $108.29, up $4.37 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Jan. 16.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $2.00 this week to a projected gain of $8.60 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $93.94, Up $2.79 from Last Week

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:45:28 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Jan. 9 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in June 2026 using July 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $93.94, up $2.79 for the week. Feed costs were up $1.15 per head, and July futures increased $1.88 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $120.05.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 71,400 head being reported which is 102% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $83.33, up $6.13 from a week ago. The low to high range was $65 to $95. Cash prices were 79.62% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $1.64 this week at $68.02.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 19,050 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $103.92, up $7.84 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through January 9, 2026.

NutriQuest

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $3.34 this week to a projected gain of $10.61 per head.

(NutriQuest
)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $91.14, Up $12.51 from Last Week

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:53:26 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Jan. 2, and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in June 2026 using July 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $91.14, up $12.51 for the week. Feed costs were down $1.89 per head, and July futures increased $1.40 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is improved from last week by $3.66 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $117.25.

Figure 1

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 63,730 head being reported which is 91% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $77.20, up $4.69 from a week ago. The low to high range was $62 to $86. Cash prices were 74.93% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $3.78 this week at $69.66.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 13,200 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $96.08, up $3.01 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

Graph 1

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

Graph 2

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Jan. 2.

Graph 3

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $7.82 this week to a projected gain of $13.94 per head.

Graph 4

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $78.63, Up $0.30 from Last Week

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:55:59 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Dec. 26 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in June 2026 using June 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $78.63, up $0.30 for the week. Feed costs were up $1.01 per head, and June futures increased $0.63 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $104.74.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report
Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 87,732 head being reported which is 126% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $72.51, up $2.33 from a week ago. The low to high range was $52 to $85. Cash prices were 71.08% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $1.68 this week at $65.88.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 12,850 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $93.07, up $6.11 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Dec. 26.

NutriQuest

(NutriQuest
)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $2.03 this week to a projected gain of $6.12 per head.

(NutriQuest )

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $78.33, Up $3.67 from Last Week

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:46:54 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Dec. 19 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in June 2026 using June 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $78.33, up $3.67 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.51 per head, and June futures increased $0.65 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is improved from last week by $1.34 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $104.44.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 34,004 head being reported which is 50% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $70.18, up $1.27 from a week ago. The low to high range was $54 to $76. Cash prices were 69.23% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $7.66 this week at $67.56.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 9,900 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $86.96, up $1.77 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Dec. 19.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $2.40 this week to a projected gain of $8.15 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $74.67, Up $5.66 from Last Week

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:03:41 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Dec. 12 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in May 2026 using June 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $74.67, up $5.66 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.62 per head, and June futures increased $2.40 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $100.78.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 54,004 head being reported which is 79% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $68.91, up $3.80 from a week ago. The low to high range was $57 to $76. Cash prices were 69.01% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $0.43 this week at $59.90.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 13,000 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $85.19, up $1.81 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Dec. 12.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $1.86 this week to a projected gain of $5.76 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

How the Pork Industry is Tackling Pig Livability Today

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:14:49 GMT

Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean that’s a good way to keep doing it. Eight years ago, the National Pork Board’s animal science committee took a hard look at mortality in all phases of production, realizing that 35% of pigs born in the U.S. never enter the human food chain.

“Besides being a welfare issue and a bad optic from a social license standpoint, it’s just a bad business model, too,” says Chris Hostetler, director of animal science at the National Pork Board.

This committee believed the best way to make a difference in the number of pigs going to market is a renewed focus on student training and real research that’s shifting how farmers raise pigs.

“We know pigs die for a variety of reasons – it could be health-related, management practices, genetic predisposition,” Hostetler says. “Because it’s a multi-factorial issue, it takes a lot of different subject matter expertise and coordination. It’s a big, heavy lift to do this research and train undergraduate and graduate students to do it in a coordinated, cooperative fashion.”

What is the Pork Industry Doing to Improve Pig Livability?

National Pork Board partnered with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to bring the Improving Pig Livability Project to life. They gathered a group of subject matter experts to focus efforts on improving pig livability in all phases of production while training graduate students, undergraduate students and veterinary students.

“There needs to be a generational shift,” Hostetler says. “These people will be decision makers for our industry down the road.”

Joel DeRouchey, a professor at Kansas State University, says the research efforts aim to generate new information for producers, validate current production practices or disprove practices that aren’t moving the needle.

From pelvic organ prolapse to individual sow care and from split suckle protocols to gruel feeding, DeRouchey says the studies are providing actionable results that producers can apply on farm immediately.

Producers appreciate the research taking place that they can’t do themselves, he adds.

“We’re able to do the majority of this research in a commercial setting,” DeRouchey says. “Then, all that information is shared for the greater swine industry, not only in the U.S., but around the world. We get positive feedback from not only swine producers, but those in allied industry who support swine producers, on how this information is all shared and not kept in a proprietary way.”

Collaborating for U.S. Pork Excellence

DeRouchey says this is fostering an atmosphere of selflessness – of people pulling together to move the industry forward. No single university research program can be everything to everybody, so this project allows universities to cross expertise to get more done.

“About $1.5 million in additional contributions to this effort tells me producers and industry collaborators are interested in getting these best management practices employed on farms, and that they’re willing to allow researchers onto their farms and have access to sows, pigs, data and information,” Hostetler says. “It speaks to the fact that they’re very supportive of the outcomes from the project.”

When it comes to partnering with commercial operations to do this research, DeRouchey says the universities provide the experimental design, a graduate student to collect the research and sometimes, an intern to assist.

“We need their commitment that their team in the barn will help do what’s needed to get that data collected correctly,” DeRouchey says. “Plus, an understanding that everything’s going to be published – there’s no proprietary information generated when we’re partnering together on these areas.”

He also says it’s key that the farm is passionate about that topic, so management and production staff are excited to get that information as well.

Hungry for Continuous Improvement

“Producers are hungry for this information,” DeRouchey says. “If we go back to 2015, we started to see increases in mortality rates in all phases of production. Until last year, that trend had been continuing to go up for about nine years now. Last year we started to see some slight decreases in some of the production areas. Hopefully we’re going to start bringing it back down on a consistent basis.”

Hostetler values producers’ mentality of continuous improvement and getting better every day.

“Producers are looking for better ways to do things that they have traditionally done,” Hostetler says. “There’s opportunity to get better every day. Producers recognize the value of adapting these best management practices or changes in management decisions in a timelier fashion to affect productivity on their farm.”

Since its inception, the program has trained more than 50 undergraduate and nearly 30 graduate students and provided nearly 20 undergraduate internships. Information is available at piglivability.org and through nearly 40 peer-reviewed publications, nearly 40 abstracts/presentations, more than 120 presentations at conferences, more than 30 factsheets (with two-third available in Spanish), two economic decision tools and 30 informational videos (with one-third available in Spanish).

What’s Next?

An industry advisory board made up of about 10 people across all different facets of the commercial industry, production systems, veterinarians, nutritionists, geneticists and more are continuing to advise and direct research topics.

“As we continue evolving this, it’s all about staying relevant,” DeRouchey says. “It’s continuing to get the message out from the information generated to provide value to pork producers.”

Where Can I Find More Information?

For more on the Improving Pig Livability Project and its findings, visit: piglivability.org .

When ‘Negative’ Nurse Sows Become an Opportunity
Managing Large Litters: Can Sows Nurse More Pigs Than Teats?

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $69.01, Up $16.24 from Last Week

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:44:07 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Dec. 5 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in May 2026 using June 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $69.01, up $16.24 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.97 per head, and June futures increased $10.48 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is declined from last week by $3.20 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $95.12.

(Nutriquest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report
Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 89,483 head being reported which is 130% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $65.11, up $2.14 from a week ago. The low to high range was $50 to $76. Cash prices were 69.70% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $0.15 this week at $59.47.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 15,800 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $83.38, up $0.60 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Dec. 5.

(Nutriquest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $14.10 this week to a projected gain of $3.90 per head.

(Nutriquest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $52.77, Up $6.02 from Last Week

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:39:59 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Nov. 28 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in May 2026 using May 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $52.77, up $6.02 for the week. Feed costs were up $1.07 per head, and May futures increased $3.38 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $78.88.

Figure 1

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report
Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 66,041 head being reported which is 97% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $62.97, down $0.80 from a week ago. The low to high range was $49 to $76. Cash prices were 72.81% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $2.63 this week at $59.62.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 9,450 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $82.78, up $1.96 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

Graph 1

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

Graph 2

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Nov. 28.

Graph 3

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $6.82 this week to a projected loss of $10.20 per head.

Graph 4

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $46.75, Down $2.94 from Last Week

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:59:58 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Nov. 21 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in May 2026 using May 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $46.75, down $2.94 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.89 per head, and May futures decreased $1.83 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $72.86.

Figure 1

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report
Cash-traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 53,880 head being reported which is 80% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $63.77, down $0.13 from a week ago. The low to high range was $47.00 - $75.00. Cash prices were 74.40% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $1.89 this week at $56.99.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average with 14,725 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $80.82, down $1.35 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

Graph 1

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

Graph 2

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Nov. 21.

Graph 4

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $2.81 this week to a projected loss of $17.02 per head.

Graph 4

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $49.68, Up $4.33 from Last Week

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:36:45 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Nov. 14, 2025 and CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in May 2026 using May 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $49.68, up $4.33 for the week. Feed costs were up 53¢ per head, and May futures decreased 38¢ compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is improved from last week by $2.69 per cwt.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $75.79.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Note: The weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report
Cash traded weaner pig volume was below average this week with 58,700 head being reported which is 87% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $63.90, down $1.39 from a week ago. The low to high range was $52.00 to $78.00. Cash prices were 73.60% of average six-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula priced weaners were down $2.17 this week at $58.88.

Cash traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 18,650 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $82.17, up $3.11 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of six-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Nov. 14, 2025.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $5.72 this week to a projected loss of $14.22 per head.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest.NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com .

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $45.36, Down $5.68 from Last Week

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:30:31 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on Nov. 7 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in April 2026 using May 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $45.36, down $5.68 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.28 per head, and May futures decreased $2.58 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $71.47.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report
Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 78,660 head being reported which is 115% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $65.29, down $2.34 from a week ago. The low to high range was $51 to $80. Cash prices were 73.95% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were up $1.62 this week at $61.05.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 18,535 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $79.06, down $1.47 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions )

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions )

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through Nov. 7.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential decreased $3.34 this week to a projected loss of $19.94 per head.

(NutriQuest Business Solutions )

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

Feeder pigs

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $60.38, Up $3.16 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $57.22, Down $7.05 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Hog Market Outlook: Why Dave Delaney Sees a Summer Rally and Undervalued Futures

Slaughter Trends and Supply

The “Health Narrative” Tightens Supply

Productivity vs. Disease

Summer Rally Ahead?

What Delaney Watches in the Hog Market

Risk Management Strategy

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $64.27, Up $3.23 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $61.04, Down $10.06 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $71.10, Down $0.59 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $71.69, Down $9.36 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

What’s Driving Grow-Finish Profitability in 2026?

1. Focus on the first 48 hours.

2. Better biosecurity equals better production.

3. Look into manure as a strategic asset.

4. Boost truck biosecurity.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $81.05, Down $4.68 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $76.37, Down $18.89 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $95.26, Down $5.03 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $109.30, Up $2.64 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $106.67, Up $10.66 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $96.00, Down $11.13 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $103.58, Up $2.28 From Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $99.57, Up $5.64 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $93.94, Up $2.79 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $91.14, Up $12.51 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $78.63, Up $0.30 from Last Week

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $78.33, Up $3.67 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $74.67, Up $5.66 from Last Week

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

How the Pork Industry is Tackling Pig Livability Today

What is the Pork Industry Doing to Improve Pig Livability?

Collaborating for U.S. Pork Excellence

Hungry for Continuous Improvement

What’s Next?

Where Can I Find More Information?

Read More:

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $69.01, Up $16.24 from Last Week

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $52.77, Up $6.02 from Last Week

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $46.75, Down $2.94 from Last Week

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $49.68, Up $4.33 from Last Week

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $45.36, Down $5.68 from Last Week