September 2026

Looking Back at the First Half of 2026

Summer is coming to a close, and as we look back on the first six months of 2026, we are encouraged by the continued progress demonstrated by participating producers. The first half of the year has shown improvements in many key production indicators, reflecting the industry's ongoing focus on productivity, reproductive performance, and pig output. To ensure your operation is included in our 3rd Quarter results, please submit Q3 data by October 30. The more operations that participate, the stronger and more valuable these benchmarks become for everyone.

Quarter-to-Quarter Progress: Q1 2026 vs. Q2 2026

The second quarter of 2026 showed several positive trends when compared to the first quarter.

Reproductive performance remained strong, with average total pigs born/ litter increasing from 16.31 → 16.38 ▲ 🟢, while pigs born alive/litter improved from 14.53 → 14.61 ▲ 🟢 pigs. Although the increase was modest, it demonstrates continued consistency in breeding herd productivity.

Weaning performance produced mixed results. Pigs weaned/litter weaned increased from 12.76 → 12.80 ▲ 🟢 pigs, reflecting continued success in moving larger litters through weaning. However, pigs weaned/mated female/year declined from 28.25 → 27.48 ▼ 🔴, indicating opportunities remain to improve overall female productivity.

While reproductive output improved, farrowing rate declined from 84.08% → 80.68% ▼ 🔴, highlighting the challenges producers faced during the second quarter.

There were also areas that warrant continued attention. Pre-weaning mortality increased from 14.21% → 15.88% ▲ 🔴, reminding us that maintaining piglet survivability remains an important industry focus.

Overall, Q2 demonstrated continued improvement in litter size and pigs born alive, while also highlighting opportunities to improve farrowing success and piglet survival.

Year-Over-Year Comparison: 2025 vs. 2026

When comparing 2026 results to the same periods in 2025, several noteworthy trends emerge.

In Quarter 1, average total pigs born/litter increased from 16.15 in 2025 → 16.31▲ 🟢 in 2026, while pigs born alive/litter improved from 14.45 → 14.53 ▲ 🟢. These gains reflect continued progress in reproductive performance and demonstrate producers' ongoing focus on maximizing litter productivity.

Quarter 2 presented a more mixed picture. While pigs born alive/ litter increased from 14.55 in 2025→ 14.61 ▲ 🟢 in 2026, total pigs born/litter declined slightly from 16.48 → 16.38 ▼ 🔴. At weaning, pigs weaned/litter weaned decreased from 12.88 → 12.80 ▼ 🔴, and pigs weaned/female/year declined from 27.88 → 26.21▼ 🔴. These results suggest that although herds continued to achieve strong farrowing outcomes, converting those gains into weaned pig performance remained a challenge.

The most notable decline was observed in overall annualized pig output. Pigs weaned/mated female/ year decreased from 29.02 in 2025 → 27.48 ▼ 🔴in 2026, reflecting the impact of lower weaning performance and highlighting opportunities to improve pig survivability and throughput.

While reproductive measures remained strong, challenges persist. Pre-weaning mortality and sow mortality indicators were higher in parts of 2026, emphasizing the importance of balancing larger litters with effective piglet care, survivability, and sow longevity programs. Continued focus in these areas will be key to turning reproductive gains into improved overall herd productivity.

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Looking Ahead

The first half of 2026 demonstrates that participating herds continue to make progress in key reproductive measures. In particular, gains in pigs born alive/ litter and consistently strong litter sizes reflect the industry's ongoing commitment to genetic improvement, management excellence, and operational efficiency.

The Quarter 2 results also highlight opportunities for continued improvement. While producers are generating larger and more productive litters, metrics such as pre-weaning mortality, pigs weaned/female/year, and pigs weaned/mated female/year indicate there is still room to capture more of that reproductive potential through improvements in piglet survivability and sow herd performance.

As we look ahead to the second half of the year, continued focus on translating strong farrowing performance into additional pigs weaned will be critical to maximizing overall herd productivity and profitability.

We encourage all clients to submit their third-quarter data by October 30 so that together we can continue building meaningful industry benchmarks. Watch for the release of the Q3 report in December newsletter, and be sure to visit our website to review the complete results and detailed benchmarking analysis.

Tips & Tricks - Record and Analyze Piglets Euthanized

This video highlights the feature available related to recording and analyzing piglets euthanized. In the Piglet Death event you are now able to record when a piglet is euthanized and why.

Tom Celebrates One-Year anniversary!

It's hard to believe that it has already been one year since Tom Somrack, PigCHAMP Sales & Customer Care Representative, joined our team!

Over the past year, Tom has become a valued resource for both our customers and colleagues. He is passionate about helping producers implement innovative solutions that improve efficiency, productivity, and overall success. Whether assisting with software questions, account management, or identifying opportunities to maximize the value of PigCHAMP, Tom is always ready to help.

One of the many reasons we appreciate Tom is his ability to bridge the gap between technical product capabilities and real-world customer needs. He takes the time to understand each operation's unique challenges and works to ensure producers have the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

Please join us in congratulating Tom on his first anniversary with PigCHAMP! If you have questions about PigCHAMP products or services, don't hesitate to reach out. Tom will be happy to assist and help you find the right solution for your operation.

Tom.Somrack@PigCHAMP.com

Are you brave enough to compare your data?

Share your benchmark data with PigCHAMP and discover how your operation compares to other producers. To have your data included in the next quarterly benchmarking report, email benchmarking@pigchamp.com.

Benchmarking is one of the many valuable benefits available to PigCHAMP customers, helping you identify strengths, uncover opportunities, and make more informed management decisions.

Your operation evolves, our pricing stays grounded!

In an industry full of changes, PigCHAMP remains focused on delivering steady value and dependable service.