(Reuters) — The U.S. hog herd in the latest quarter was mostly steady with a year earlier and down slightly from trade forecasts, a U.S. government report showed June 28.
However, producers had a record number of pigs per litter during the period at 10.31, up two percent from a year earlier.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed that the hog herd as of June 1 was 100 percent of a year ago at 66.647 million head. Analysts expected 66.992 million head, or 100.5 percent of a year earlier.
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The U.S. breeding herd was 100 percent of a year earlier at 5.882 million head, compared with average trade expectations for it to be un-changed. The breeding herd was 5.862 million head a year ago.
The June 1 supply of market-ready hogs was 100 percent of a year earlier at 60.765 million head. Analysts expected a .6 percent rise, or 61.162 million.
The report was not expected to affect Chicago hog futures, which rose about six percent two weeks ago on pork prices that reached record levels, spurred by demand for pork bellies that are processed into bacon.
Demand for BLT sandwiches during hot summer weather usually supports pork belly prices, and a tight supply of market really hogs added to the upward price trend.
The pork carcass cutout hit an all-time high of $111.33 per hundredweight June 26, beating the previous $110.19 record set Aug. 8, 2011.
Analysts believe the price of pork and hogs will settle back, now that the Canada Day and July 4 Independence Day holidays are over.
