US Livestock Census Results : Pig Stock Grows 2%, Sows 1% The results of the most recent livestock census as of 1 Dec 2017 , as expected, provided a repeat increase in US pig herds of around 1% . 2% over the previous year. The increase in sow husbandry with approx. 1% remained within expectations. The piglets per sow have around another approx. 1% increased. Since the PED virus epidemic at the beginning of 2014 , the average number of pigs in the US until the beginning of December 2017 has been reduced by approx. 12.6% has been increased .The stock numbers As of December 1, 2017, the recovery in US pig production is expected to continue in 2018. For the first quarter of 2018 , the USDA expects a 3% increase and for the second quarter an increase of approx. 2%. The previous increase in pigmeat production has so far been recorded in the US without major problems. Most of the growth was consumed domestically. The per capita consumption is only at approx. 26 kg of pork. However, approx. 42 kg of poultry meat and 26 kg of beef eaten. (For comparison Germany: 53 kg of pork, 12 kg of beef and 21 kg of poultry meat). The export share is mainly due to exports to Mexico . In other countries, sales have increased only slightly. More recently , US pork prices have fallen back to the equivalent of € 1.05 / kg . Even in the summer for the barbecue season, the prices in the top were at around rd. 1.65 €. For the coming year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA ) estimates a price range of € 1.10 to € 1.30 / kg. An der Chicagoer Börse werden allerdings für den Frontmonat Febr.-18 bereits 1,25 €/kg gehandelt. Für die Sommersaison beträgt der Terminkurs Juli 2018 sogar umgerechnet 1,55 €/kg. Für den Herbst/Winter 2018/19 werden jedoch nur Kurse um 1,10 €/kg notiert.
Die Hoffnung der US-Schweinefarmer setzt auf weiter anhaltend hohe Beschäftigung, steigende Einkommen mit entsprechender Nachfrage sowie eine Forcierung der Exportmengen. Letzteres funktioniert jedoch nur mit einem mäßigen Dollarkurs.
