An agricultural economist thinks hog slaughter in the United States may be seven per cent less than last fall and winter.
Lee Schulz, Iowa State University livestock economist, said litters were smaller in the spring and PRRS took a heavy toll.
The good news is that the lower numbers relieve the pressure on the meat-packing sector which was facing a shortage of shackle space.
The government will be releasing its hog-population number on Friday.
