Larger litters in U.S. hog data

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Published: January 31, 2002

CHICAGO, Illinois – Exceptionally mild weather conditions in December

led to a surprising gain in pigs-per-litter in the United States

Department of Agriculture’s monthly hogs and pigs report, analysts

said.

“The pig crop is larger than I expected due entirely to more pigs per

litter” during December, said Ron Plain, livestock economist at the

University of Missouri.

“The weather here in the Midwest had a nice December – it could well be

that better weather led to healthier sows,” Plain said.

USDA put the pigs-per-litter number at 8.8 head. Analysts had estimated

the number in a range from 8.65 to 8.8. It was 8.66 a year ago.

The rise in pigs per litter was a surprise because previous reports had

put it below year-ago levels.

USDA had sows farrowing in December at 917,000 head, or 101.8 percent

of last year. As a result the 2001 pig crop was 8.069 million head, or

103.4 percent of the previous year, which is bearish to summer lean hog

futures.

About the author

Jerry Bieszk

Reuters News Agency

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