US hog count lower than expected as of March 1, 2022 The quarterly inventory of US hog counts as of March 1, 2022 yielded mostly surprisingly lower than expected results. The total number of animals was -2.3% below the previous year's result. The number is even below the lower range of the forecasts. The number of breeding pigs fell by 98.1% compared to the previous year, even lower than the forecasts, which usually reckoned with at least stable or increasing sow numbers. In the individual weight and age classes, with a few exceptions, the trend towards reduced stock numbers prevailed. Therefore, a sustained scarcity of slaughter numbers is expected in the coming weeks and months. The decline in stocks began as early as 2020 under the restrictions of the Covid requirements. In the period that followed, the cost of feed has continued to rise, which calls into question the profitability of pig farming. The halving of pork exports to China and other Asian countries also contributed to the reduction in stocks.The courses on the Chicago Stock Exchange reacted promptly with increases of more than 2%. The April 2022 front date rose to the equivalent of €2.08/kg. For the June 22 date even 2.49 €/kg are traded.
