By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

There are 2.37 million more hogs and pigs in the United States this year, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As of June 1, there were an estimated 71.65 million head of hogs and pigs across the nation. That’s up three percent from 67.28 million swine in June of 2016 and up one percent from March 1 of this year.

The inventory increase could be attributed to a growing demand for pork both at home and abroad. USDA predicts that by the end of 2018, pork production in the U.S. will equal, and sometimes surpass, demand for beef, according to the Washington Post.

In 2016, Japan, the highest-value international market for U.S. pork, purchased $1.5 billion in U.S. pork products, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

Pork demand is growing in North America, as well. Last year, American producers exported nearly $799 million in pork to Canada and $1.4 billion to Mexico, NPPC reports.

Demand is increasing hog and pig inventory across all divisions in the U.S., according to USDA.

U.S. breeding inventory, which includes boars, is up two percent over this time last year when there were 5.98 million head. There are now 6.07 million head kept for breeding. That’s up slightly over the quarter from 6.06 million as of March 1.

There are also more market hogs in inventory. USDA estimates 65.6 million head of market hogs, up four percent from June 2016 and up one percent from the March 1 inventory.

The pig herd has grown four percent over the year from 31.1 million to 32.3 million as of June 1.

Sows farrowing are up three percent from June 2016 to 3.06 million sows. That’s up seven percent from 2015 inventory.

The report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) also includes the Canadian hog and pig inventory.

In Canada, there were 14.1 million head of hogs and pigs as of June 1. That’s up two percent from this time last year. Canadian breeding inventory, at 1.28 million, is up one percent, while market hog inventory is up two percent over the year to 12.9 million head.

The Canadian semi-annual pig crop has grown to 14.9 million head, up three percent over 2016. The number of sows farrowing is up slightly at 1.27 million as of July 1.

The next U.S. hog and pig inventory is scheduled to be taken Sept. 1.

The full report, which breaks down inventory by quarter and type of hog and pig, can be found at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/USCH/USCH-08-22-2017.pdf.