I believe producers are managing their finishing pigs to achieve the best carcass results – through genetics, nutrition (perhaps including Paylean) and judicious weighing. Lean incentives can gain more than $2/hog where at least 40% of carcasses have a 60-66 mm loin (or 62-68 mm for 95 kg carcass contracts) and feeding for leanness can give up to 114 index averages on some loads.

We’ll see how profitability shakes out this summer, where higher hog prices are chased by higher feed prices. Production efficiency is still a significant factor in achieving profitability, so herds with 23-26 p/s/y marketed will certainly be better off than those with lower marketings per sow. I expect that carcass weights may be decreased by 1-2 kg to gain the feed efficiency from less backfat on lower-maintenance hogs.

BarrWest Pork has been a weekly winner on the WHE listing several times. In one instance 96 kg carcasses measured 15.6 mm backfat with 65.0 mm loins and in anther instance 96 kg carcasses averaged 17.1 mm backfat and 67.2 mm loins. By excellent weighing techniques, 153 hogs hanging 95 kg carcasses averaged 114.0 index from 17.3 mm backfat at OLYMEL slaughter.

Figure 1: Average Number of Pigs Weaned/Mated Female/ Year During 2005 in U.S. and Canadian Herds

Figure 2: Farrowing Rate During 2005 in U.S. and Canadian Herds

Figure 3: Average Number of Piglets Born Alive /Litter During 2005 in U.S. and Canadian Herds