The following report is by DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist Jeff Swenson. This market update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry, as well as USDA reports.
Hogs were higher last week with a National Base Hog Carcass price of $86.35. The pork cutout value showed strength last week, moving $2.76 higher to average $96.03, although it opened this week lower.
Forty-pound feeder pigs were steady at $82.94, while early-weaned pigs were about $1 higher at $45.30.
Last week’s estimated harvest of 2.430 million hogs was 59,000 more than the prior week and 52,000 more than the same week last year.
March pork production totaled 2.25 billion pounds, slightly more than a year ago, with hogs harvested down slightly at 10.4 million head. Comparing last year to 2023, total pork production was 2% higher.
Commercial hog harvest was also above the previous year, totaling 130 million head, an increase of 1%. Wisconsin processors harvested 825,000 hogs in 2024, an increase of 1% compared to the previous year.
The average weight of hogs harvested in Wisconsin was 425 pounds compared to the national average of 288, a reflection of the state being a leader in sow harvest.
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