Year to date US sow slaughter (Jan-June) is 1,678,600, up from last year's 1,498,810. - year to date 180,000 more. For those who think the sow number this year is being inflated by overweight market hogs, we offer this year average slaughter weight, Jan-June 304 lbs, last year’s same time frame 304 lbs.

From Dec 1 to June 1 the USDA breeding inventory showed a decline of 152,000 sows. We believe that what is ongoing is a further reduction of the sow herd. The financial losses of many producers are unprecedented. Current losses of $40 per head on top of already many months of losses are accelerating herd decreases.

Compound that we are in summer when mortality increases due to high temperatures, while gilt replacements have slowed. All these factors lead us to believe sow herd is decreasing significantly at this time. Fewer sows mean fewer pigs.

US hog slaughter last week was 2,589,000, up from last year's 2,359,000. Packers have good margins to motivate them to keep slaughter numbers up. Saturday was 231,000 head, a year ago 12,000. We need to work into whatever hogs are backed up and it appears it's happening.

US pork cut-outs held last week closing Friday at $70.53. This despite more hogs being harvested.

US pork in cold storage at the end of June was 464,373 compared to 619,454 a year ago. A huge difference. Despite record low seasonal prices, Pork has not gone into storage. Good news if we get any momentum in the market cold storage levels will not slow down a rebound.

Rabobank as the world’s largest agriculture lender has a good handle on what’s going on in the global swine market. Last week they reported that they expect Global Pork Production to decline 8 percent.

We would agree with these observations. Genesus has Genetic sales and production in each of these three countries and the decline in production from ASF related issues is significant. If anything, we question if both Vietnam and the Philippines might have even greater declines they observe.

Rabobank reports “In the United States, live hog prices have dropped 41 percent year-over-year in early July, as meatpackers continue to work through a backlog of animals that could take months to process. Analysts said market prices for hogs are well below breakeven and could cause some producers to trim their herds or exit the business.”

We note 52,000 more sows in June (180,000+ YTD) to slaughter than a year ago would indicate “trimming”.

It seems bizarre to us with projected 8 percent less pork in the world, why the North American industry is sucking air. Even more bizarre that the 8 percent decline includes a 1.5 percent increase in the United States. At the rate things are going with the rapid decline of the breeding herd accompanied by euthanized pigs there will be less US pork in the not so distant future.

A Personal Note

24 years ago, I traveled from Ontario to Manitoba for the first time. I had been asked to speak to the Hutterite District of the Manitoba Pork Board by their director Henry Maendel.

Henry prior to the meeting invited me to the Rosebank Colony where he was hog boss. I had never been to a Hutterite Colony indeed I had never met a Hutterite. That day will be ever etched in my mind as Henry who had a very strong personality showed the workings of Rosebank. The church, housing, hog barn, shops, land and kitchen. All very impressive. I remember the dinner we had duck; it was good. The ladies who cooked the dinner watched us. We talked and I ate slow. At that time, I didn’t know eating slow isn’t what you do. I wondered why the ladies kept staring, later I learned they wouldn’t leave until we were done. Lesson learned.

Later Henry told me about the history of the Hutterite Community. A religion-focused in the early 16th-century agrarian-based communal living and common ownership founded by Jacob Hutter as part of the Anabaptist movement of the reformation. He told me the 500-year journey to where today there are over 400 colonies in the USA and Canada. It was an enlightening and memorable day for me.

Unfortunately, Henry Maendel passed away last week. I pay tribute to Henry as a powerful personality who embodied the Hutterite religion and culture. Since first meeting Henry I have come to know many Hutterites as friends and customers. In the 24 years, I have come to admire the tremendous will and dedication it takes to maintain a distinct community and culture.

Henry was an impassionate leader of the Manitoba Pork Industry. A number of years as director of the Manitoba Pork Board he pushed for producers’ interests. At his passing, he was overseeing as Hog Boss the building of a new swine barns at Rosebank Colony. A continued belief in the future of the swine industry.

Our condolences to Henry’s Family and all at Rosebank Colony. May he rest in peace.