pork production
Pennsylvania farm gets sows out of the crates—mostly
Large-scale hog farms typically put sows in metal cages for almost their entire lives in the name of efficient pork production. Pennsylvania producer Clemons Food Group is trying a different approach that reduces the time in "sow crates" to 75 days a year — not hog heaven but a step in the right direction, says Modern Farmer.
Hog prices plunge after WHO cancer risk rating
U.S. hog prices are the lowest in six years, with the swift drop in market prices following the rating by the WHO's cancer research agency of processed meats such as bacon and ham as "carcinogenic to humans," says Purdue economist Chris Hurt.
In two decades, big farms took over hog industry
Historically, small or medium-sized farms produced the majority of the annual pig crop. But in the space of two decades, three at the most, the hog industry was transformed into a sector dominated by large farms with at least 5,000 head apiece, says the USDA's Overview of the U.S. Hog Industry report, issued for the first time since 2009.
Pork and broiler prices take a drubbing as supplies grow
With 2015 in its final months, U.S. pork production, in a rebound from the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, is 8-percent larger than a year ago and broiler chicken production is up by 4 percent, says the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook.
A year of flat pork prices after 2014’s skyrocket
Pork prices in the grocery store are forecast to increase hardly at all this year, up 0.5 percent, says the USDA's Food Price Outlook, a relief for consumers after record-high prices last year. "However, pork prices [this month] are still 5.9 percent higher than last year," according to the monthly report. Hog farmers are expanding production and hog prices this year are expected to be lower than in 2014. Poultry meat is forecast to increase in price by 3 percent this year and beef by 3.5 percent.
As hog prices drop, low feed costs are key to profit
Hog farmers are expanding their herds following the record-high market prices of 2014. Production is forecast to rise by 7 percent this year, a surge that is driving down hog prices.
“Classic boom-and-bust price pattern” looms for hog farmers
After hitting record highs last year, hog prices hit a five-year low in recent weeks, writes Purdue economist Chris Hurt at farmdoc daily. An expansion in hog numbers has "helped create what may be the greatest collapse of hog prices ever.
More cattle and hogs to ease meat squeeze
U.S. cattle, hog and poultry producers are expanding production, the government said in forecasting a sharp 3-percent increase in per-capita meat consumption this year. In its monthly WASDE report, the Agriculture Department raised its forecast of meat production by more than 1 billion pounds for this year. It estimated that the average American would consume 208.5 pounds of beef, pork and poultry in 2015, the equivalent of 9 ounces a day.
More pork for consumers, lower profits for hog farmers
After several years of constrained supplies, pork production will climb by 5 percent this year, says economist Chris Hurt of Purdue. "Pork producers are gearing up to provide their customers with what they want and that is 'More Pork' and 'More Bacon,'"...
Smithfield says 70% of sows in group housing, not crates
The world's largest pork producer, Smithfield Foods Inc, says more than 70 percent of its pregnant sows are in group housing, part of a shift from so-called sow crates that limit their movement, says Associated Press.
Biggest increase on hog breeding inventory since late 1990s
Hog farmers "are significantly ramping up pork production," says Farm Futures, pointing to the 4 percent increase in the breeding inventory in the three months ending on Dec 1 vs the same period in 2013.
Lower-weight hogs mean 5 percent drop in pork supply
Pork production during the final three months of this year is forecast to be 5 percent smaller than the year-earlier figure, keeping prices for slaughter hogs high, says the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report.
Pork group uses social media to shape views on antibiotics
The farmer-funded National Pork Board "will use an online marketing campaign to counter a critical television documentary on antibiotics use in livestock," says Reuters.
Tyson must sell sow-buying unit as part of Hillshire deal
Tyson Foods, Inc. must sell its sow-buying unit, Heinold Hog Markets, to satisfy antitrust rules and proceed with its purchase of Hilllshire Brands Co. for $8.5 billion, the Justice Department said.
USDA mandates reporting of PEDV outbreaks
Hog farmers are obliged to report outbreaks of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and work with offiicials to combat the disease and prevent its spread, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced at the World Pork Expo.
A year later, origin of deadly hog virus still a mystery
The government "has no clear idea" how Porcine Epidemic Virus entered the United States a year ago, Reuters says. The virus, with a high mortality rate for newborn pigs, has killed 10 percent of the U.S. hog herd and helped push pork prices to high levels.
PEDV spreads to 28 states, new swine disease appears
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus was discovered in Vermont this week, meaning the disease has hit 28 states, says DTN.
A shipping ‘standstill’ and herd culling if African swine fever is found
The USDA will move quickly to eradicate the African swine fever if the viral disease is discovered in the United States, said Agriculture Undersecretary Greg Ibach at the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City. The USDA would order a 72-hour nationwide "standstill" of hog shipments, as a step to prevent spread of the virus, and it would kill all infected and exposed hogs, potentially thousands of animals or more.