Happy National Pig Day! Here are five fun facts about pigs in Iowa

Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register
·2 min read
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March 1 is National Pig Day, and as a resident in the No. 1 pork producing state in the country you're expected to be equipped with some knowledge.

So here are five facts about pigs in Iowa.

How many pigs are there in Iowa? Way more than people.

There are 23.4 million pigs on Iowa farms, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. That means for every one Iowan there are 7.3 pigs.

The top five Iowa counties for pork production are Washington, Sioux, Lyon, Hamilton and Plymouth.

Zach Wigle of Solon, kisses Eggs, a baby pig at the Swine Cuddles booth in West Bend during RAGBRAI on Monday, July 24, 2017. The booth is a fund raising effort for the local little league baseball team.
Zach Wigle of Solon, kisses Eggs, a baby pig at the Swine Cuddles booth in West Bend during RAGBRAI on Monday, July 24, 2017. The booth is a fund raising effort for the local little league baseball team.

How many pork producers are there in Iowa?

There are pork producers in all of Iowa's 99 counties amounting to more than 5,400 pig farms across the state, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association's 2020 industry report. The number of pork producers has declined over the years while the inventory on farms has grown, according to Iowa State University.

More: The NIL we need: Pork sellers turn to Iowa State football to Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon

How much pork does the average Iowan eat?

Nearly all Iowans eat pork, according to the Iowa Farm Bureau. A survey in 2017 found that 96% of Iowa grocery shoppers reported their household eats pork.

Outside of the state, Iowa exported more than $2.1 billion of pork in 2019, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association's 2020 report.

How many pounds of pork are produced in Iowa?

Nearly one-third of all pigs in the country are produced in Iowa, according to Iowa State University. This translated to 14.3 billion pounds of pork coming out of Iowa farms in 2022. Other states following Iowa in pork production include Minnesota and North Carolina.

More: Iowa pork producers' losses worst in 25 years amid high costs and declining demand

How much did the largest pig at the Iowa State Fair weigh?

Pee-Wee poses with his owners after taking the first place prize at the Big Boar contest Thursday at the Iowa State Fair. He weighed in at 1,300 pounds, just 35 pounds shy of the fair record.
Pee-Wee poses with his owners after taking the first place prize at the Big Boar contest Thursday at the Iowa State Fair. He weighed in at 1,300 pounds, just 35 pounds shy of the fair record.

Reggie the pig was crowned the Iowa State Fair Biggest Boar in 2012. Reggie weighed in at 1,335 pounds.

During the 2023 state fair, Reggie's title felt some pressure from a pig by the name of Pee-Wee. Pee-Wee's scale balanced at 1,300, just 35 pounds short of Reggie's. His diet of three dozen cream-filled long john doughnuts and nearly five gallons of butter fat-filled Jersey milk could not top Reggie's mass.

The average market hog is raised to be between 250 to 325 pounds within five to seven months of life, according to Washington State University.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: National Pig Day 2024: Five fun facts about Iowa's pigs