Hg 9 (10-09)

Overview of the

U. S. Hog 

Industry Washington, D.C.

Released October 30, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. For information on Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry call Nick Streff at 202-720-3106, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Annual Pigs Per Breeding Animal Continues To Increase

The Overview of the U.S. Hog Industry report provides an official periodic review of efficiency trends and changes in 

the structure of the breeding herd. This report will also note changes in hog operation size groups, compare historic hog 

prices and review live hog imports. This report compares the current 2008 production year data to the 2005 production 

data released in the U.S. Breeding Herd Structure report, published in September 2006. 

The efficiency of the U.S. breeding herd continued to increase with the average number of pigs per breeding animal 

again on the rise. The average number of annual pigs per breeding herd animal (including sows, gilts and boars) was 

18.7 in 2008, up from 17.4 in 2005 (Graph 1). This steady increase in the average number of pigs per breeding animal 

is due to the increase in the number of litters per sow per year and the increase in litter rates. Producers have been able 

to increase pig crop while decreasing breeding herd as a percent of the total inventory (Graphs 2 and 3).

Operations with more than 5,000 head accounted for 88 percent of the pig crop in 2008 compared to 82 percent in 2005. 

Conversely, operations with less than 5,000 head accounted for 18 percent of the pig crop in 2005 but only 12 percent 

in 2008 (Graph 4).

The litter rate for operations with less than 5,000 head averaged 8.93 pigs per litter in 2008, up from 8.66 in 2005. The 

litter rate for operations with more than 5,000 head increased from 9.10 in 2005 to 9.48 in 2008 (Graph 5).

The hog operation estimates as illustrated in Graphs 6 and 7 show a break in the series from 2006 to 2007. In 

preparation for the 2007 Census of Agriculture, NASS exerted extensive efforts to build a comprehensive list of 

producers, which allowed NASS to capture more limited-resource and small farms. The 2007 Census of Agriculture 

indicated a larger number of hog operations existed than previously estimated with the majority of the increase in 

operations coming from operations having 1-99 head. The break in the series reflects the fact that newer information 

for years prior to 2007 was not available to make revisions. 

The overall trend for operations with less than 5,000 head continues to show a decrease (Graph 6), while operations 

with more than 5,000 head continue to increase (Graph 7). Operations with more than 5,000 head accounted for 61.1 

percent of the total hog and pig inventory in 2008 (Graph 8). The ten largest hog states account for over 85 percent of 

the total hog and pig inventory (Graph 9).

All hog market year average prices have been between $46 and $51 per cwt since 2005 (Graph 10). However, the corn 

market year average price has increased from $2.00 per bushel in 2005 to $3.90 per bushel in 2008. This has led to a 

hog to corn ratio of 10.0 in 2008 compared to a ratio of 25.3 in 2005 (Graph 11). 

Canadian hog imports continue to be a factor in the U.S. hog industry. Imports of all Canadian hogs for 2008 totaled 

9.3 million head, up 14 percent from 2005 (Graph 12). Feeder pig imports in 2008 were up 30 percent from 2005 and 

accounted for 7.0 million head of the total 2008 imports (Source: Foreign Agricultural Service and Department of 

Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau). The feeder pig imports accounted for approximately 23 percent of Canada’s annual 

pig crop (Source: Statistics Canada, Agricultural Division). 
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 2 NASS, USDA

Survey Procedures and Methodology

The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs reports are based on probability surveys. A probability survey assumes everyone in the 

target population has a positive probability of being selected. These probabilities do not have to be equal but they must 

be known and used in the sample selection and survey estimation process. Because a sample is used in the survey 

process, sampling errors are associated with the numbers. However, since the probabilities of selection are known, 

sampling errors can be calculated to determine levels of precision. In other words, it allows an objective evaluation of 

the reliability of a statistic.

Hog owners, including contractors, are the target population for the quarterly hog surveys. The sampling universe for 

the hog estimation program is all hog operations with the capacity to raise breeding or market hogs. A sample of hog 

operations from the list frame maintained by NASS is supplemented by a sample of area tracts to ensure complete 

coverage. 

A random sample of roughly 12,000 U.S. producers is surveyed to provide data for the December report. A sample size 

of approximately 9,200 is sampled for each March, June and September survey. Survey procedures ensure that all hog 

and pig producers, regardless of size, have a chance to be included in the survey. Large producers are sampled more 

heavily than small operations. 

The December Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report includes published estimates for each of the 50 states. The Quarterly 

Hogs and Pigs reports in March, June and September include individual published state estimates for the 17 major 

producing states, combined with 13 non-published states. Estimates from the remaining 20 states, which are only 

published in December, are carried forward each quarter.

Hog and pig estimates are prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations and analysis 

submitted by each field office. National and state survey data are reviewed for reasonableness with each other, with 

estimates from past years and using a balance sheet. The balance sheet begins with the previous inventory estimate, 

adds the estimates of births and imports and subtracts the estimates of slaughter, exports and deaths. This indicated 

ending inventory level is compared to the Agricultural Statistics Board estimate for reasonableness. 

Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve quarter to quarter relationships. In December, estimates for all 

quarters of the current and previous year are reviewed. In March, June and September, estimates for the previous four 

quarters are subject to revision when the current quarter estimates are made. The reviews are based on slaughter, death 

loss and current import and export data. Estimates are also reviewed after data from the Department of Agriculture 

five-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions are made after that date. 

Note

This special release is only available on the NASS website at: www.nass.usda.gov
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 3 NASS, USDA

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

U.S. Hogs and Pigs

Average Pigs per Litter Average Pigs per Breeding Animal

Graph 1

Pigs per Litter

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

U.S. Hogs and Pigs

Average Breeding Herd Annual Pig Crop

Graph 2

Breeding Herd (Millions) Pig Crop (Millions)
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 4 NASS, USDA

50

52

54

56

58

60

62

64

66

68

70

8%

9%

10%

11%

12%

13%

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

U.S. Hogs and Pigs

Breeding Herd Percent of Total Inventory Total Hogs & Pigs

Total Inventory (Millions)

Graph 3

Percent of Total

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

U.S. Annual Pig Crop Distribution

<5000 Head Places 5000+ Head Places

Graph 4

Percent
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 5 NASS, USDA

7.80

8.00

8.20

8.40

8.60

8.80

9.00

9.20

9.40

9.60

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

U.S. Annual Litter Rate

U.S. Average <5000 Head Places 5000+ Head Places

Graph 5

Number

50

100

150

200

250

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Thousands

U.S. Hog Operations

<5000 Head

<5000 Head

Graph 6
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 6 NASS, USDA

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

U.S. Hog Operations

5000+ Head

5000+ Head

Graph 7

Number

50.7

6.7

3.5 4.0 5.4

2.9

0.9% 2.5% 3.5%

8.0%

24.0%

61.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1-99 100-499 500-999 1000-1999 2000-4999 5000+

% of Inventory

U.S. Hog Operations

By size Groups and Percent of Inventory

Operations by Size Group Series3 Percent of Inventory

Graph 8

Operations (000)
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 7 NASS, USDA

IA, 29.6%

NC, 14.4% MN, 11.2%

IL, 6.5%

IN, 5.3%

NE, 5.0%

MO, 4.7%

OK, 3.6%

OH, 2.9% KS, 2.6%

Top 10 Hog and Pig States

Percent of December 1, 2008 U.S. Inventory

Graph 9

$20

$25

$30

$35

$40

$45

$50

$55

$60

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

U.S. All Hog MYA Price

U.S. All Hog MYA

Graph 10

Dollars per Cwt.
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 8 NASS, USDA

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Number

U.S. Hog to Corn Ratio

Hog / Corn Ratio

Graph 11

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

U.S. Live Hog and Pig Imports

Live Hog Imports

Graph 12

Million Head
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 9 NASS, USDA

Terms and Definitions

Boar: A male hog, usually kept for breeding purposes.

Bred: A pregnant female animal.

Breeding herd: Animals used for reproduction, including sows, gilts, and boars. 

Farrowing: The process of giving birth in hogs. 

Feeder Pig: A young pig, usually recently weaned and at least 8 weeks old or 40-100 pounds in weight, to 

be fed for slaughter. 

Gestation Period: The time during embryo and fetus development, from conception to birth. 112-115 days 

for swine (approximately 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days for hogs).

Gilt: A female pig that has never farrowed. 

Herd: A group of animals (especially cattle, horses, swine), collectively, considered as a unit in farming or 

grazing practice. 

Hog Operation Types:

1. Nursery: A swine facility where weaned pigs are raised until they reach the size of feeder pigs. 

2. Farrow-to-Wean: A swine facility that includes breeding stock and new born pigs that are not 

yet weaned. The weaned pigs are sold to other producers to raise until they are sold for feeder pigs 

(see “Nursery”) or are raised until they are marketed for slaughter (see “Finish”).

3. Farrow-to-Feeder: A swine facility that includes breeding stock and pigs ranging from newborn 

to feeder pig size. The feeder pigs are sold to the producers (see “Finish”) to raise until they are 

marketed for slaughter. 

4. Farrow-to-Finish: A swine facility that includes breeding stock pigs and are raised from birth 

until sold for slaughter. 

5. Finish: A swine facility that includes market hogs, but not breeding stock, that are fed until they 

are sold for slaughter. 

Hog Places: An operation having one or more hog or pig on hand at any time during the year. 

Imports: The goods and products that a country buys from foreign countries. 

Litter: A group of pigs farrowed by a sow in one farrowing. 

Litter Rate: Number of pigs saved per farrowing, normal 6-12, range 0-16 pigs, average 8-10. 
Overview of the U. S. Hog Industry Agricultural Statistics Board

October 2009 10 NASS, USDA

Operation: Establishments primarily engaged in production of crops or plants, vines and trees (excluding 

forestry operation) and/or the keeping, grazing or feeding of livestock or poultry for animal products, for 

animal increase or value increase. 

Pig: A young hog weighing less than 120 pounds.

Pig Crop: The number of pigs produced by a given number of sows, usually expressed as the percent of 

pigs weaned to sows bred. 

Sow: Female pig that has farrowed at least once. 

Swine: A hog or a pig. 

. 

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics 

Service to contact for additional information.

Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ................................................................................ (202) 720-3570

Livestock Section

Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section .................................................................................. (202) 690-2424

Jim Collom - Dairy Products ................................................................................... (202) 690-3236

Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices ......................................................................... (202) 690-2168

Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ................................................................ (202) 720-3040

Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ................................................................ (515) 284-4340

Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats ............................................................................ (202) 720-4751

Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows ....................................................... (202) 720-3278

Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs ..................................................................................... (202) 720-3106
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