In the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, which was released on Friday, the pig herd was shown to be 62.9 million – down three per cent on March last year and five per cent since the last report in December.

The breeding inventory, at 5.85 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up two per cent from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 57.0 million head, was down by four per cent from last year, and down by five per cent from last quarter.

The December 2013-February 2014 pig crop, at 27.3 million head, was down by three per cent from 2013.

Sows farrowing during this period reached 2.87 million head, up by three per cent from 2013.

The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 per cent of the breeding herd.

The average pigs saved per litter was 9.53 for the December-February period, compared to 10.08 last year.

Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.70 for operations with one to 99 hogs and pigs to 9.60 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.