Illinois Hog Inventory - Decoding the Latest Figures

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Illinois witnessed its hog and pig inventory total 5.50 million head on December 1, 2023, marking a 1 percent rise from September 1, 2023. Although remaining stable compared to the prior year, the breeding inventory observed a decline of 40,000 from the previous quarter and 20,000 from the previous year, standing at 630,000 head. At the same time, the market hog inventory, reaching 4.87 million head, experienced a 2 percent increase from the last quarter and a slight uptick from the previous year's figures.

From September to November 2023, the pig crop surged impressively by 6 percent to reach 3.31 million head compared to the same period in 2022. Sows farrowing remained consistent at 290,000 head, with an average of 11.40 pigs saved per litter, displaying an improvement from the previous year's count of 10.75.

Inventory Breakdown - Illinois:

Total Hog Inventory: 5.5 million head
Breeding Inventory: 630,000 head

Market Hog Inventory:

Under 50 pounds: 1,455,000 head
50-119 pounds: 1,530,000 head
120-179 pounds: 1,070,000 head
180 pounds and over: 815,000 head

Comparison over time:

Yearly Change: No change from the previous year

Quarterly Change:

Breeding Inventory: Declined by 40,000 from the last quarter and 20,000 compared to the previous year.
Market Hog Inventory: Increased by 2% from the last quarter and slightly higher than the previous year's figures.

Sows Farrowing and Pig Crop:

Sows Farrowing:

Dec-Feb: 280,000 head
Mar-May: 275,000 head
Jun-Aug: 285,000 head
Sep-Nov: 290,000 head

Pig Crop:

Dec-Feb: 2,968,000 head
Mar-May: 3,121,000 head
Jun-Aug: 3,306,000 head
Sep-Nov: 3,306,000 head

Pigs per Litter:

Dec-Feb: 10.60
Mar-May: 11.35
Jun-Aug: 11.60
Sep-Nov: 11.40

The pig crop from September to November 2023 saw a significant 6% increase from the same period in 2022. The sows farrowing remained steady at 290,000 head, but the number of pigs saved per litter improved to 11.40 for the September-November period from 10.75 in the previous year.

Photo Cedit: istock-srdjan-stepic