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U.S. hog inventory rises 1% year-over-yearU.S. hog inventory rises 1% year-over-year

Hog Outlook: Pork Checkoff kicks off marketing campaign to understand consumer segments.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

January 13, 2025

2 Min Read
U.S. hog producers continue to improve on the number of pigs weaned per litter
PRODUCTIVE MAMAS: U.S. hog producers continue to improve on the number of pigs weaned per litter. Kevin Schulz

As 2024 drew to a close, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service issued its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, finding there were 75.8 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms as of Dec. 1. That is up 1% from December 2023 but down slightly from Sept. 1, when the last inventory was tallied.

Of that total, 69.8 million are market hogs, up slightly from 69.5 million in December 2023. The 6.004 million kept for breeding is up from the 5.999 million counted Dec. 1, 2023.

Another key stat that jumps out points to the improvement that U.S. hog producers continue to make in getting pigs out of the farrowing room. Although sows farrowing between September and November were down slightly from 2023, the trajectory of average pigs saved per litter continues its upward trend. The latest average of 11.92 tops 11.66 pigs per litter saved for the same period a year ago.

In the October 2023 Hog Outlook column, I reported that the 11.61 pigs per litter weaned in the late September 2023 Hogs and Pigs report was a record at the time. That 11.61 was up from 11.13 weaned pigs per litter for the same period the previous two years. That progression is a positive sign that producers are very good at what they do and continue to be efficient in their production.

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Weaned pigs per litter translates to 35.2 million pigs weaned between September and November of last year, up 2% from the same time period one year earlier.

According to the latest Hogs and Pigs report, U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow between December and February, and 2.95 million sows farrow between March and May this year.

Per usual, the big three hog-producing states remain at the top, with Iowa having the largest inventory of 24.6 million head. Minnesota has the second-largest inventory at 9.5 million head, and North Carolina comes next with 8.2 million head.

Iowa’s hog inventory is down 3% from the previous quarter and down 2% from the previous year. Minnesota’s inventory was actually up 2%, both from the previous quarter and the year-ago numbers. North Carolina’s inventory was unchanged from Sept. 1 but up 4% from year-ago numbers.

While hog producers keep doing what they do best, American consumers need to do a better job of demanding and buying pork for their plates.

To meet consumers where they’re at, the Pork Checkoff is kicking off a new marketing campaign to understand seven identified consumer segments. Four priority segments are Confident Meat Eaters, Simple Feeders, Culinary Adventurers and Mindful Choicemakers. Secondary segments identified by the Checkoff are Tasty Value Seekers, Culture Celebrators and Meat Minimizers.

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The website explaining the segments offers consumers a quiz to determine which category they fall under, and I am happy to report that I am a "confident meat eater." Check it out to see where you fall and where you might be able to help eat into the pork supply.

About the Author

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

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