The October survey data reported by Danish Statistics indicates that the Danish breeding herd has fallen back, according to Whole Hog Brief. There are declines reported across all categories: sows, sows in pig, sows with pigs and gilts. Apparently, the signs of confidence seen in the earlier surveys in 2010 have evaporated.

The total number of pigs in Denmark according to the October 2010 report was 12.034 million head. This is a 5.3 per cent decline on a year-to-year comparison. The size of the sow herd is down 5.1 per cent from the 2009 October census and is reported at 1.048 million head.

Whole Hog Brief says that three negative elements of pig industry economics in Denmark came together over the summer, which have probably caused many smaller pig producers in Denmark to think twice about continuing production. Those elements are relatively low piglet prices, high feed prices and the new investments required by producers to meet new welfare legislation due to come into force in 2012.

North American Sows and Market Hogs Fall Again

Whole Hog Brief reports that the USDA has recently published its September report for the combined breeding herds and market hogs categories for North America. These data show continuing declines in all major categories for the year on year figures. Recent feed price hikes and the collapse of US prices will do nothing to reverse these trends, according to Whole Hog Brief.

Pig Price Cycle Tested by US Market Changes

The last month has seen US prices in a tailspin. Whole Hog Brief's chart below shows the daily and weekly price movements have been dramatic and have apparently moved off trend.

US commentators have been almost as volatile as the prices in reaction to these market signals. More considered analysis shows that year-to-year price changes are still positive in the US market, however, and it is too soon to say whether the underlying global pig price cycle is being given a shock that will affect its progress in 2010.

Canadian prices have mirrored the US market but Danish prices remain stable, reports Whole Hog Brief.

Pork Powerhouses 2010

Whole Hog Brief reports that 'Successful Farming' has published its Pork Powerhouses, which ranks the biggest pork producers in North America.

According to the survey data (for September 2010) the top 25 Pork Powerhouses in the USA had 2.92 million sows. Whole Hog Brief highlights that this is a reduction of just 0.6 per cent – much smaller than the overall reduction in the size of the US herd over the year – which implies the increasing concentration of the industry.

The top five companies, according to the survey, are 1, Smithfield Foods; 2, Triumph Foods; 3, Seaboard Foods; 4, Iowa Select Farms and 5, The Pipestone System, reports Whole Hog Brief.

November 2010