Dec. 1 US Hog Herd Larger than Expected

The latest Hogs and Pigs report from the USDA showed a larger American herd than many in the trade were expecting. Released Tuesday, the report pegged the total number of hogs and pigs on US farms at 75.5 million head, up 1% from a year earlier and slightly higher than September levels. That compares with pre-report expectations that total inventory would decline by roughly 1%. Market hog numbers rose 1% year over year to 69.6 million head, defying forecasts that pegged market hogs down close to