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The
U.S. swine breeding
herd is located in much
the same areas as the
total U.S. swine herd.
However, breeding
animals tend to be more
concentrated due to
economies of scale and
management and the
ease with which young
pigs can be transported.
Breeding herds do not
generally need to be
near feed supplies since
they use only about one
ton of feed per sow per
year. |
New technologies
have
allowed larger breeding
farms to be possible.
Confinement housing,
artificial insemination,
early weaning and other
practices have given
larger breeding units
cost advantages. The
result: Many areas have
seen breeding herd
reductions while fewer
areas have seen breeding
herd growth in the form
of larger sow farms.
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