Dive Brief:
- According to a USDA report, the U.S. hog and pig inventory grew 7% over one year ago to 65.9 million head as of March 1st.
- That growth is a good sign that the country's hog and pig herds are rebounding from the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus that ran rampant through herds last year.
- The pigs per litter figure had been most significantly impacted by the virus, and that number was up 107.0% from 9.53 one year ago to 10.17 from December through February. The previous record for the winter period was 10.08 pigs, tabulated in 2013.
Dive Insight:
This bounce back has been apparent for a few months now, particularly since pork production topped beef output as of February for the first time since 1952. The USDA predicts pork output to hit record highs by the end of this year thanks in part to the larger hog population, which increased 2% in the year ending December 1.