Prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
Pork
The pork market isn’t gaining ground, but daily losses have gotten smaller. Cash hogs were down 34 cents last week, with a national base carcass price of $80.83/cwt. Futures speculators have been timid and are waiting for cash prices to turn the corner and move higher. The pork cutout value was $2.76 higher last week, to $96.39/cwt. Last week’s estimated harvest of 2.702 million was 616,000 more than the previous holiday shortened week and 98,000 more than the same week last year. The average live weight of hogs last week was 292 pounds with carcass weights averaging 217 pounds – both equal to last year. Feeder pigs were higher last week, with 40-pound pigs averaging $83.38/head and early weaned pigs averaging $63.59/head.
Two wild boars in Spain have tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF). The country’s military has been deployed to help contain the outbreak. No farms have been affected. One-third of Spain’s 400 export certificates to 104 countries have been blocked, including Mexico. Mexico remains the top destination for U.S. raised pork. Pork prices in China have dropped 18% since the beginning of 2025 and are now at their lowest level in three years. Larger pork supplies and declining consumer confidence there are speculated to be the cause.
