HOGS 



Farmers increased hog production phenomenally in the 3 j^ears from 

 1941 through 1943. On January 1, 1944, there were nearly 84 million 

 hogs on U. S. farms, the greatest number at the start of any year in the 

 Nation's history. This was about 30 million hogs, or 54 percent, more 

 than the number on January 1, 1941. This record was achieved even 

 though more hogs were slaughtered during 1943 than during any previous 

 year. 



In response to the Government's call for more pork, farmers in all 

 parts of the country stepped up hog production. The greatest relative 

 increase — 82 percent — was in the Western Region. The North Central 

 Region (the Corn Belt) came next with a 58 percent increase. This 

 region produces 65 percent of all the hogs normally raised in the United 

 States. 



While the increase was greatest in the two regions of ample feed 

 supplies, it was by no means confined to them. Hog numbers in the 

 feed-deficit areas also increased notably — 41 percent in the East Central 

 Region, 40 percent in the Northeast Region, and 38 percent in the 

 Southern Region. 



For the country as a whole, 44 percent more pigs were saved in 1943 

 than in 1941. The 1943 pig crop of 121.7 million head, the largest in 

 history, resulted in a hog population considerable larger than available 

 feed supplies could support and still meet the needs of other livestock. 

 Realizing this, farmers reduced farro wings in 1944 to bring hog numbers 

 more in line with feed supplies. The 1944 pig crop was about 29 percent 

 less than the all-time record of 1943, but still 2 percent greater than 

 that of 1941. 



The greatest decrease in pig crops occurred in the Corn Belt and the 

 Western Region, where adequate feed supplies are available, rather than 

 in the feed-deficit areas of the South and East. 



By January 1, 1945, the number of hogs had been reduced to about 60 

 million, approximately 12 percent above the January 1, 1941, number. 



CATTLE 



The cattle population of the United States on January 1, 1944, was 

 the largest in history, more than 82 million head. Since 1939 it had been 

 growing at the rate of more than 3 million head a year. The previous 

 peaks, reached in 1934 and 1918, were 8 and 9 million head, respectively, 

 below the 1944 mark. 



To make it easier to compare changes in cattle numbers, cattle have 

 been considered as two classes: (1) Dahy cattle, including all cows and 

 heifers 2 years old and over kept for milking, and (2) other cattle, includ- 

 ing all beef cattle and calves, and cattle of dairy breeds not kept for 

 milking. 



DAIRY CATTLE 



The number of dairy cattle has been increasing steadily since 1938 

 On January 1, 1945, there were 27.8 million head in the United States, 

 which is up about 13 percent from January 1, 1938, and about 9 percent 

 from January 1, 1941. 



Milk production also has increased, but not in proportion to dairy 

 cattle numbers. It is estimated that 1944 production is somewhat above 

 that of 1943, or about 119 billion pounds. That would be about 11 percent 

 more than the 1938 total of 106 billion pounds and 3 percent more than 

 the 1941 total of 115 billion pounds. 



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