Hogs and Pigs Survey - Info

	Hogs and Pigs Survey
United States Department of Agriculture		National Agricultural Statistics Service
		December 2010

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts a quarterly Hogs and Pigs Survey that provides information on market hogs and breeding stock inventories as well as farrowing intentions. NASS contacts pork producers, including contractors, to collect this data.

HOW ARE THE DATA COLLECTED?

The survey is conducted in December, March, June and September. Data are gathered from a sample of producers representing U.S. facilities with the capacity to raise breeding or market hogs. Producers from all states are included in the December survey, while producers in the 16 largest hog-producing states are surveyed during the following three quarters.

Data collection methods include:

• Telephone – Computer-assisted telephone interviewing is the primary method.

• Mail – Participants fill out and mail back the questionnaire that was mailed to them.

• Internet – Secure, online reporting is the timeliest, most cost-effective option.

• Personal interviews – NASS representative may conduct a personal face-to-face interview.

HOW IS THE INFORMATION USED?

In December, NASS publishes a quarterly Hogs and Pigs report with inventory and breeding information for all states. In March, June, and September, NASS publishes hog information for each of the 16 largest hog producing states, which account for nearly 95 percent of the total U.S. inventory.

Following each quarterly hog report, NASS and Statistics Canada release the United States and Canadian Hogs report. The report combines NASS hog and pig estimates with quarterly hog statistics released by Statistics Canada.

In February, NASS also publishes estimates of the number of hog operations by herd size groups and percent of inventory in the Farms, Land in Farms and Livestock Operations report.

Each sector of the U.S. pork industry relies on accurate hog and pig estimates to make sound business decisions. For instance:

• The information helps producers develop and refine their production and marketing strategies.

• Data on breeding stock inventory, farrowing intentions, the latest pig crop and average litter size allow analysts to forecast the expansion and contraction of pork production.

• Processors, warehouse and storage companies, and the transportation sector rely on the reports to anticipate volume for future months.

The information provided by survey respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

All reports are available through the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540.