United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, D.C. 20250

www.nass.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, lender, and employer.

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Hogs and Pigs

What is included in NASS Estimates

To assist users who may have questions about what is included in NASS hogs and pigs

estimates, the definitions below provide the details of what is accounted for and excluded in the 

various components of the report. NASS procedures for inclusion and exclusion are unchanged 

from previous years. 

Hogs and Pigs Definitions of Estimates in Quarterly and Annual Reports:

All Hogs and Pigs: A point in time estimate as of the reference date of swine inventory.

Market Hogs: A point in time estimate as of the reference date of the inventory of swine which 

are being raised to be sent directly to slaughter. Does not include any animals which are kept for 

breeding.

Kept for Breeding: A point in time estimate as of the reference date of the inventory of boars, 

sows, and gilts which have the primary function of producing more swine.

Sows Farrowed: The number of sows which gave birth during the reference period (monthly, 

quarterly, or annually).

Pig Crop: The number of pigs which were born alive during the reference period (monthly, 

quarterly, or annually) and are either still owned by the operation or have been sold or 

slaughtered by the reference date of the publication. Pigs which die for any reason other than 

being slaughtered for human consumption are not included in the pig crop estimate.

Pigs saved per Litter: Also commonly called “Pigs per Litter” or “Pigs Saved”, this estimate is 

the pig crop divided by the sows farrowed during the reference period (monthly, quarterly, or 

annually).

Death Loss: Is an estimate of the number of weaned swine which died for any reason other than 

being slaughtered for human consumption. Published annually. 

Question: Are euthanized unweaned pigs included in the pig crop?

Answer: No. Unweaned pigs that die are not included in the pig crop. 

Question: Are sows whose unweaned pigs are euthanized included in sows farrowed? 

Answer: Yes. The sow would be included in sows farrowed with zero pigs saved for that 

litter. 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, D.C. 20250

www.nass.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, lender, and employer.

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Question: Are euthanized weaned pigs included in the pig crop?

Answer: Pigs that are weaned and die are not included in the pig crop. 

Question: When are euthanized swine counted?

Answer: Death loss data are collected quarterly from the 30 quarterly states. During the 

December survey, death loss data is collected for the 20 annual states. Death loss 

estimates are published in the Meat Animals Production, Disposition and Income 

Report.

Question: Are aborted sows included in the breeding herd?

Answer: Sows are included in the kept for breeding estimate if the sows are bred or 

intended to be bred. 

Question: Are aborted sows included in the sows farrowing estimate?

Answer: No. 

Questions: Contact Travis Averill, Livestock Branch Chief – Travis.Averill@usda.gov

Updated: June 3, 2020