U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 1997, was 58.2 million head. This was 2 percent above June 1996 and 4 percent above the March 1, 1997 inventory.

Breeding inventory, at 6.95 million head is up 1 percent from June 1, 1996 and up 2 percent from March 1, 1997. Market hog inventory, at 51.2 million head was 2 percent above last year and 4 percent above last quarter.

The March-May 1997 U.S. pig crop at 25.5 million head was 2 percent more than 1996 but 3 percent less than 1995. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.95 million head, slightly below last year. Litter rate increases continue at a record level, with an average of 8.65 pigs saved per litter for the March-May period. Last year the litter rate averaged 8.47 pigs per litter. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 8.80 for operations with more than 2,000 hogs and pigs.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.91 million sows farrow during the June- August 1997 quarter, 5 percent above the actual farrowings during the same period last year, but 2 percent lower than 1995. Intended farrowings for September-November 1997, at 2.89 million sows are 6 percent above 1996 and 3 percent above the 1995 period.

The total number of hogs under contract, owned by operations with over 5,000 head total inventory, but raised by contractees, accounted for 26 percent of the total U.S. hog inventory.

The USDA reported hogs and pigs inventory versus year ago on June 1 (1,000 head)

			1995 	1996 	1997 	%-X

All Hogs & Pigs	59,560	57,200	58,150	102
Kept for Breeding	 7,180	 6,870	 6,950	101
For Market		52,380	50,330	51,200	102

For Market By Weight 	1995 	1996 	1997 	%-X
Under 60 lbs.		21,270	20,265	20,605	102
60-119 lbs.		13,060	12,700	12,890	101
120-179			 9,865	 9,800	 9,930  101
180 lbs. and over	 8,180	 7,565	 7,775	103

Sow Farrowings 		1995 	1996 	1997 	%-X 
Dec-Feb- Y,Z		 2,886	 2,745	 2,677	 98
Mar-May- Z		 3,170	 2,964	 2,952	100
Dec- May-Y,Z		 6,056	 5,709	 5,629	 99
Jun- Aug		 2,976	 2,761	 2,910	105
Sep- Nov		 2,815	 2,717	 2,888	106
Jun-Nov			 5,791	 5,478	 5,798	106

Pig Crop (1,000 head) 	1995 	1996 	1997 	%-X
Dec-Feb-Y		23,851	23,054	23,069	100
Mar-May			26,373	25,092	25,548	102
Dec-May-Y		50,224	48,146	48,617	101
Jun-Aug			24,813	23,667
Sep-Nov			23,479	23,159
Jun-Nov			48,292	46,826

Pigs per litter		1995	1996	1997	%-X
Dec-Feb-Y		8.27	8.40	8.62	103
Mar-May			8.32	8.47	8.65	102
Dec-May-Y		8.29	8.43	8.64	102
Jun-Aug			8.34	8.57
Sep-Nov			8.34	8.52
Jun- Nov		8.34	8.55

W--Actual farrowings for June- August plus intentions for September-November.

X"1997 as percent of 1996.

Y"December prior year.

Z"Intentions for 1997.

The USDA reported hogs and pigs on farms in the 17 major producing states on June 1 (1,000 head)"

			1995 	1996 	1997 	%-X
All Hogs & Pigs	55,045	52,750	54,030	102
Kept for Breeding	 6,515	 6,220	 6,350	102
Market			48,530	46,530	47,680	102

For Market By Weight 	1995 	1996 	1997 	%-X
Under 60 lbs.		19,600	18,645	18,955	102
60-119 lbs.		12,010	11,660	11,940	102
120-179			 9,185	 9,110	 9,400	103
180 lbs. and over	 7,735	 7,115	 7,385	104

X -- 1996 as percent of 1995.

June 27, 1996                                                                                  NASS, USDA

Consensus National Futures and Financial On Line Index
Livestock Index

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