Pork production

[perspec]

Year to date hog slaughter in 2013 was 36,118,000 head.  This year, it's 34,582,000 which is down 4.3%.   Year to date pork production was 7494.5 million pounds in 2013.  This year, it's 7395.5 million pounds which is down 1.3%.  Our latest cash index is $116.80 compared to $83.40 last year.  Thoughts?

[gough whitlam]

Love it.  Maybe there might not be enough pigs to export to Australia after that virus cleans them up but I am cynical by nature.

[Kay/NC]

When packing plants go whole weeks idle, which some will eventually have to do, due to the dearth of hogs to slaughter, it has to impact prices upward, don't you think? 

[perspec]

My question is if the ped virus will affect hog slaughter numbers much.  So far it has been an underachiever.   We have had PED for a year and slaughter numbers are even with last year if you consider slaughter weights(hogs held back).  PED outbreaks peaked in Feruary and are declining.  That big decline in hog numbers better happen fast.