Pork Production in the United States

Joel Brendemuhl

Tim Marshall

University of Florida

U.S. swine industry is changing fast

Who raises hogs?

How hogs are raised?

Where hogs are raised?

Vertical Integrationof the Swine Industry

• One company controls, through ownership or contract relationships, from the farm to the fork

Trends Changing the U.S. Swine Industry

1. Improved herd performance

- Producer efficiency -

2. Fewer & bigger hog farms

3. Specialization

4. Fewer & bigger packing plants

5. Geographic shift in production

6. Integration of production and packing

7. Contracting

8. Globalization

• Producer Efficiency– Pigs/litter

– Litters per breeding animal

– Market pigs per breeding animal

– Pork production per breeding animal

– Slaughter weights

Trends in the Industry

Estimated Daily Slaughter Capacity, U.S. – June, 2000

Company Company Total # of hd/d

Smithfield 80,300

IBP 69,500

Swift 39,400

Excel 38,700

Hormel 31,600

Farmland 22,800

Seaboard 16,000

Total all U.S. 377,620

PorkFacts, 2000-2001

Fewer & Bigger Hog Farms

Total Hog Farms, 1000 farms United States

50.00

150.00

250.00

350.00

450.00

550.00

650.00

750.00

850.00

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

USDA/NASS, 2001

Average Inventory Per U.S. Hog Farm

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

R. Plain - Univ. of Missouri

Percent of Inventory by Size of OperationUnited States

3.5

18.0 17.0 17.0 17.0

27.5

1.0

6.08.0

13.0

21.5

50.5

0.00

12.00

24.00

36.00

48.00

60.00

1-99 100-499 500-999 1000-1999 2000-4999 5000+

19952000

USDA-NASS, 12-28-00

Percent of Operations and Inventory United States

55.5

20.6

9.06.8 5.6

2.41.0

6.08.0

13.0

21.5

50.5

0.00

12.00

24.00

36.00

48.00

60.00

1-99 100-499 500-999 1000-1999 2000-4999 5000+

NumberInventory

USDA-NASS, 12-28-00

10 Largest U.S. Hog FarmsSmithfield Foods 675,000 sowsConti Group 201,000 sowsSeaboard Farms 175,000 sowsPrestage Farms 122,000 sowsTyson Foods 110,000 sowsCargill 109,000 sowsIowa Select 96,000 sowsChristensen Farms 74,000 sowsPurina Mills 70,000 sowsGoldsboro Hog Farm 70,000 sows

Source: Successful Farming

Specialization

Allowed producers to become more efficient and lower costs of operation.

Early Production1950’s

Today’s Confinement Building

Farrowing Barn

Farrowing Crate

Nursery

Growing - Finish

Most operations are an All-in / All-out type of production

A “Pot”200 Slaughter Pigs

Conventional farrow to finish

Breeding-gestation

Farrowing (3 to 4 wk)

Nursery (to 50 #)

Finishing (to 260 #)

Site 1

Segregated Early Weaning 3 Site

Breeding-gestation

Farrowing (2 to 3 wk)

Nursery (to 50 #)

Finishing (to 260 #)

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Modern Swine Production

Intensive management• Breeding programs - hybrids• Feeding programs• Environmentally controlled buildings• Disease control/sanitation is critical

– “all in, all out” production systems– “shower in, shower out”– Multiple-site systems

Where are pigs produced in the United States?

Corn Production

213

Primary energy source = CORN

Soybean Production

12

Primary protein source = soybean meal

Traditional Swine Producing Areas

1

Geographic Shift

Geographic Shift in Hog Production

Sows are leaving the corn states

Hogs went to N.C. because N.C. developed a better system

Hogs are moving west to get away from rain and people

Percent of U.S. Swine Breeding Herd

State 1980 2000 Change

N.C. 3.73 15.95 +12.22

Okla. 0.54 5.42 +4.88

Colo. 0.44 3.03 +2.59

Utah 0.08 1.27 +1.19

Ky 2.01 0.80 -1.21

Wis 2.95 1.20 -1.75

Ill 9.77 7.18 -2.59

Ga 3.84 0.88 -2.96

Iowa 22.98 17.86 -5.12

Where are the Pigs?Rank State Breeding Market Total

---------1000 hd -------------------- -------------------

1 IA 1120 13980 15100

2 NC 1000 8700 9700

3 MN 600 5300 5900

4 IL 420 3680 4100

5 IN 350 2750 3100

6 MO 390 2660 3050

7 NE 360 2540 2900

8 OK 330 1860 2190

9 KS 165 1365 1530

10 OH 160 1300 1460

US 6198 52883 59081

Contracting

• Farrowing

• Nursery

• Finishing

Swine Breeds & Breeding Mgmt

Categorizing Swine Breeds

• Colored:– Paternal -- muscle, growth traits, leanness

• White:– Maternal -- milk, litter size, mothering ability

Duroc

• Paternal breed• Red• Droopy ears

Hampshire

• Paternal breed• Black w/ white belt• Erect ears

Yorkshire

• Maternal breed• White• Erect ears

Landrace

• Maternal breed• White• Large droopy ears

Reproductive Mgmt of Swine

Boar Reproductive TractBoar Reproductive Tract

TestesTestesEpididymisEpididymis

ScrotumScrotum

Vas DeferensVas Deferens

Accessory SexAccessory SexGlandsGlands

PenisPenis High semen volume: 150-250 mlLow concentration: 200-300 million/mlIf use AI, may breed 10-20 sows/ejaculate

Sow Reproductive TractSow Reproductive Tract

RectumRectumOvaryOvary

OviductOviduct

UterusUterus CervixCervix

VaginaVagina

MammaryMammary

Sow Reproductive Information

Item Average

Age at puberty 4-7 mo

Estrous Cycle length 21 d

Duration of estrus 2-3 d

Occurrence of ovulation 2nd day of estrus

Gestation length 114 d

1st estrus postpartum 3-5 d post-weaning

Reproductive Management

• Estrus Detection - expose the sow/gilt to boar– vocalization, “flirt” with the ears– respond to pressure on the rump (won’t move)– greatly swollen vulva

Reproductive ManagementMating systems• Pen mating

– natural, but controlled matings based on estrus

• Artificial Insemination (AI) usage by large integrators (nearly 100%)– use “fresh” semen,

collected from boars on site– frozen semen yields

smaller litters than fresh

Farrowing• Process of the sow/gilt giving birth.

• Farrowing stalls (crates)– protect baby pigs from being “crushed”– provides for “dual heat”

• drip coolers for the sow• heat pads/lamps for

baby pigs (85-95o F)