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Today's U.S.
Pork Industry
Pork production in the United States is a vital part of the
economy. In 2005, there were nearly 35,000 direct, full-time
equivalent pork producing jobs, which helped generate an
additional 515,000 indirect jobs. The industry produced
nearly $21 billion in personal income from total sales of
more than $97 billion and added $34.5 billion to the
country’s gross national product.
Today there are more than 67,000 pork operations compared
with nearly 3 million in the 1950s. Farms have grown in
size; 53 percent of them now produce 5,000 or more pigs per
year. Nearly 21 billion pounds of pork were processed from
about 105 million hogs in 2006. Nearly 3 billion pounds of
pork valued at more than $2.6 billion was exported in 2005.
The U.S. pork industry is experiencing phenomenal growth as
it continues to meet worldwide consumer demand for what has
become the most popular meat product. Today the United
States is one of the world’s leading pork-producing
countries and is second – tied with Denmark – to Canada as
the largest exporter. The top 10 pork producing states, in
rank order, are Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois,
Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Ohio. The
top export markets for U.S. pork include Japan, Mexico,
Canada, South Korea, China and Russia.
Key to the growth in the U.S. pork industry is the American
pork producer, who continues to become more efficient
through modern production practices, state-of-the-art
innovations and scientific advancements. U.S. pork producers
are climbing to the top while adhering to high standards of
animal care and well-being and proudly practicing good
environmental stewardship.
Pork production requires many inputs to complete the complex
process of producing high-quality pork products such as
bacon, ham and pork chops. Feed grains, high-protein feed
ingredients, vitamins, minerals and water are used to
produce hogs that go to market and eventually become pork
and pork products. Feed is the major production input to the
pork production process. In fact, feed accounts for more
than 65 percent of all production expenses. Corn, barley,
milo (grain sorghum), oats and sometimes wheat are used to
provide dietary energy in the form of carbohydrates and fat.
The U.S. pork industry used 1.08 billion bushels of U.S.
corn and 265 million bushels of U.S. soybeans in 2004. It
takes 216 million bushels of corn and 9.63 million tons of
soybean meal to produce 105.3 million market hogs. Each hog
that is marketed in the United States consumes 12 bushels of
corn and 130 pounds of soybean meal. At current prices, feed
costs alone are $62 per pig.
There is more than just meat produced when a pig is raised.
Many of the co-products, such as replacement heart valves
and skin grafts for burn victims, save lives or allow people
to lead normal lives in spite of illness (insulin). Others
are used in making many food and industrial products such as
gelatin, plywood adhesive, glue, cosmetics and plastics. By
far the largest volume co-product of pig production is
manure, an effective, low-cost source of nutrients for crops
and pastures. In fact, decisions regarding the type of
buildings to construct frequently depend on the producer’s
need for and ability to efficiently use the nutrients found
in pig manure. When properly handled and applied, manure can
be an asset to pig operations and provide extra income to
operators by reducing the need to purchase petroleum-based
fertilizer.
From pastures to enclosed barns, there are many different
hog-production systems used throughout the United States.
These systems are based on promoting the animal’s well-being
and health to maximize production. Animal well-being and
worker safety are primary concerns to producers, regardless
of the type of facilities chosen. Producers decide what type
of production facility will be the most effective method
based on a number of variables, including his or her
business plans, weather, location, feed availability and
veterinary care. The key to good swine care rests more on
the producer’s ability to properly manage housing than it
does on the specific type of housing provided.
U.S. pork producers are part of a market chain that also
includes packers, processors, purveyors, retailers and
foodservice operators. Each plays a specific role in adding
value to pigs, and each helps provide the safest and highest
quality pork products to consumers worldwide. Business
decisions are made by all players in the chain based on the
supply and demand for pork in the marketplace. This is what
impacts the prices producers receive for their pigs.
Historically, there have been few government subsidies to
support producers in times of low prices. If supplies are
low and/or demand is high, prices will be high. If supplies
are high and/or demand is low, prices will be low.
The U.S. pork industry is an integral part of the U.S.
economy, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs and adding
to the nation’s wealth, and it produces the safest, highest
quality and most abundant pork products in the world.
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