The U.S. inventory of hogs and pigs on 1 March totaled 74.3 million head, 102 percent of last year. However, it was down slightly from 74.6 million head on 1 December, which was a record for the quarter.

Sows kept for breeding totaled 6.35 million head, 102 percent of last year and up slightly from 6.33 million head on 1 December, and sows farrowed during the quarter were 49 percent of the breeding herd. Producers intend to have 3.12 million sows farrow during the March-May 2019 quarter, a 1 percent increase from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2018 and up 3 percent from 2017. The December-February pig crop of 33.0 million head was 102 percent of last year. Pigs saved per litter were 10.70, up from 10.58 in the prior yea...