Kentucky
The Kentucky Pork Industry
The Kentucky pork industry adds significant value to the agricultural economy and is a major contributor to the overall Kentucky economy. Although the size and structure of the Kentucky pork industry has changed over time, current levels of production continue to support jobs and generate earnings in the state economy. In 2023, the sales generated from hog marketings and pork processing supported a total economic contribution of $459.7 million in personal income, $651.3 million in value added, and more than 7,996 jobs in the Kentucky economy.
Total Economic Contribution
All direct, indirect, and induced economic activity supported by the Kentucky Pork Industry.
7,996
jobs supported by the pork industry
$651.3M+
value added (GDP)
$459.6M+
personal income generated
Hog Farms and Production
There are about 475,000 hogs in Kentucky. The size of the Kentucky hog herd has varied over time but has trended upward from 430,000 head in 2000 to 475,000 head in 2023. As of December 2023, Kentucky farms accounted for 0.6% of the total U.S. hog inventory.
The number of Kentucky hog farms has increased in recent years. From 1997 to 2012, the number of farms raising hogs decreased from 2,129 to 1,284, but by 2022 farm numbers increased to 1,564.
Approximately 86% of Kentucky hogs are on farms with 5,000 or more in inventory. Nine percent of Kentucky’s hogs are on farms with 2,000 to 4,999 head, and five percent are on farms with less than 2,000 head.
Hog Production Costs and Returns
In 2023, hog sales (including market hogs, sows, and feeder pigs) totaled $2.80 billion. In addition to these farm-level effects, the pork industry supports other industries by purchasing inputs, supplies, and services. Based on long-run prices and aggregated production budgets for the Kentucky pork industry, producing 876,791 market hogs in Kentucky generates over $113.50 million in feed, labor, equipment, and other production-related expenditures.
Hog Production by the Numbers
1,564
number of farms with hogs
876,791
hogs marketed annually
$154.51M
cash receipts from hog sales
Feed is the largest single expenditure category in pork production. With 876,791 market hogs produced annually, feed costs for the Kentucky industry exceed $58.76M. Other direct expenses, like energy and transportation, add over $27.84M, employee compensation totals $11.98M, and facility-related expenses add over $14.9M.
Jobs Supported by the Kentucky Pork Industry
The direct, indirect, and induced activity generated by the Kentucky pork industry in 2023 supported a total of 7,996 jobs and over $459.67M in personal income. Kentucky hog farms and pork processors directly employed 4,232 workers and paid $232.33 million in total wages. This includes 171 full-time-equivalent workers at the farm level and an estimated 4,032 employees in the hog slaughter and processing sectors.
The purchases of input supplies and services in the pork industry indirectly supported 2,172 jobs and $140,88 million in personal earnings for Kentucky workers. Beyond this, the induced impacts stemming from employee spending included 1,592 additional jobs and over $86.48 million in personal income earned. Many of these jobs were within the agriculture and manufacturing industries, as well as industries like trucking, finance, insurance, real estate, trade, and other service sectors.