North Dakota hog numbers dip by seven percent during 2005
NORTH DAKOTA - The North Dakota swine herd shrunk by 12,000 during the past year, according to figures released Dec. 28 by the North Dakota Field Office of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.On Dec. 1 the all hogs and pigs inventory stood at 157,000 head compared to 169,000 head on Dec. 1, 2004.
This year's inventory represents the fourth lowest inventory level in the last 100 years. Only 2001, 2002 and 2003 levels were lower at 154,000 head, 144,000 head and 150,000 head, respectively. The Dec. 1 inventory had increased in each of the last two years, before declining this year.
The inventory numbers were categorized in the following way:
The breeding herd was pegged at 31,000 head, which is up 2,000 from last year. The 2005 pig crop totaled 471,000 hogs, up 30,000 from last year. The service reported this is the largest pig crop since 2001, when 476,000 pigs were produced.
The average pigs per litter set a new record high of 9.42 pigs. Records of this type date back to 1924.
Market hogs totaled 126,000 head, down 14,000 from Dec. 1, 2004. Market hog inventory by weight group with respective changes from last year are as follows:
50,000 head weighing under 60 pounds, down two percent from last year; 30,000 head were in the 60 to 119 pound range, which represents a decline of 12 percent; 23,000 head were categorized in the 120 to 179 pound range, down 18 percent; and 23,000 head over 180 pounds, which represents a 15 percent decline.
Source: Farm and Ranch Guide
6 January 2006
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