With the experience with corn in average years and the possibility of better 

 utilization of such other feeds as barley and alfalfa, it is expected that hog 

 production in Montana will continue its present general upward trend. 



The peak of hog shipments from the state was reached in 1925 when a 

 total of 225,000 were marketed at outside points. In 1926 shipments totaled 

 166,000 head. To date the large bulk of Montana's hog shipments have con- 

 tinued to west coast markets. During the period 1920 to 1925 both the north 

 and south Pacific states have shown a rather strong decline in hog production 

 compared with that of the period 1915 to 1920, while the Mountain states, in- 

 cluding Montana, have greatly increased production during 1920 to 1925 com- 

 pared with 1915 to 1920. Trends of production in the coast regions, therefore, 

 will be an important factor in the coast market outlets for Montana hogs. 



HOG OUTLOOK FOR 1927 



Little if any increase in hog production in the important corn belt region 

 in 1927 is indicated by the annual December pig survey of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Relatively slight changes are anticipated in consumptive 

 demand for pork both domestic and foreign. Market supplies in 1927, since it 

 is not likely that cholera losses in 1927 will equal the heavy 1926 losses, promise 

 to be slightly larger than in 1926. Hog prices are expected to continue on com- 

 parable levels with 1926 through the first half of 1927, but, with a probable 

 slight increase in later supplies, are expected to range slightly below the favora- 

 ble 1926 levels during the latter part of 1927. 



In the Pacific coast states of Washington, Oregon and California, the pig 

 crop survey show 1926 fall breeding for 1927 spring pigs as follows: Washing- 

 ton, 25.8 per cent more sows bred compared with the fall of 1925; Oregon, an 

 increase of 39.4 per cent, and California, an increase of 15.4 per cent. 



Inter-mountain competitors of Montana on 1926 fall breedings compared 

 with the preceding year show the following comparisons: Idaho, 25.8 per 

 cent more sows bred; Wyoming, 32.2 per cent more sows bred; Colorado, 14.7 

 per cent more sows bred; Utah, 26.3 per cent more sows bred, and Nevada, 37.5 

 per cent more sows bred. 



In considering the indications of the pig crop survey on sows bred for 

 spring pigs, it is well to note that for past surveys in years when increased 

 breeding was reported, that actual farrowings reported the following spring 

 have much below the intentions to breed reported in December. Another factor 

 in determining the spring pig crop will be the weather at time of farrowing 

 and the average size of the litters that are saved. 



FROM MONTANA'S VIEWPOINT 



The 1927 outlook for hog production in Montana is quite favorable. The 

 indications from the December pig survey pointed to an increase of 9.4 per 

 cent in numbers of sows bred for 1927 spring pigs, which if carried out will 

 increase hog production in Montana in 1927. 



MONTANA HOG INDUSTRY, 1920-1927 



1924 1925 1926 1927 



January 1 Number 292,000 280,000 250,000 240,000 



Total Year Supply 636,000 613.000 547,000 



Exports 167,000 226,000 166,000 



Losses 9,000 9,000 10,000 



Local Slaughter 130,000 130,000 132,000 



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