Animal production in Indiana is a strong component of the overall
agricultural sector. The value of livestock sales has grown
significantly since the 1960s, but has remained relatively flat
in recent decades with sales consistently in the range of $1.7 to $2.0
billion.
This trend virtually mirrors the growth in the U.S. livestock sector which has increased from $20 billion in 1960 to a record $122 billion in 2004.15 In 2002, Indiana ranked 23rd in the nation based on the value of livestock and poultry products.
Pork
Indiana has a long tradition of hog production supported by skilled producers and a strong industry infrastructure. The state’s surplus corn and soybean meal production, abundant cropland for distribution of organic animal nutrients and sufficient processing capacity all make Indiana ideally suited for pork industry growth.
In
2003, cash receipts from hogs ($846 million) accounted for 47% of total
livestock receipts and 16% of the total agricultural receipts. Over the
last 10 years, however, Indiana’s pork production has been steadily
declining. Breeding herd inventories have fallen nearly 30% and
market hog inventories have dropped nearly 20%, while production
capacity in the United States has increased.Indiana ranked 5th in hog inventory as of January 1, 2004.
Despite the decline in inventories, there has been a corresponding increase in pork processing volume. In the last five years alone, there has been a 13% increase in commercial hog slaughter. This shift has meant that nearly one-third of the State’s fed market hog production is imported. There still is a 10% deficit in today’s processing capacity and this will only increase with the processing expansion alreadyplanned.
Concentration in the U.S. hog industry has occurred at a rapid pace over the last 10 to 15 years and this can also be seen in Indiana. Pork production in the State is diverse. Yearly production ranges from farms marketing 300 head per year to over 250,000 head
Dairy
Dairy production is another growth segment in Indiana’s livestock complex. Indiana has about 2,400 milk cow operations with approximately 143,000 milk cows (nearly 16% of the nation’s total herd as of Jan. 2004). The State ranks 14th in the United States for milk production with 2.9 billion pounds produced in 2003 valued at $380 million.
Since 1980, the size of Indiana’s cowherd has trended
downward – as have those in neighboring States of Illinois and
Ohio. However, in recent years, the trend appears to be reversing
and some growth is reoccurring in the industry – both in terms of
animal numbers as well as productivity gains.
Indiana is a milk deficit State – more milk is consumed than is produced in the State. But, already some quantities of raw milk produced here are exported and more is possible. Indiana is strategically located within a day’s drive to major population centers in the East and Southeast and enjoys a suitable interstate transportation network.
There also is an abundant cropland base for corn silage production and a moderate climate for dairy cows. These factors have contributed to a significant expansion in the sector with construction of new facilities (some with as many as 4,000 head) and dairy relocationsfrom the western United States.
Poultry
Poultry also is another important livestock and product industry to the Indiana agricultural economy. Indiana leads the nation in duck production and also ranks high in chicken and egg production. About 22 million ducks are raised each year in the United States and most are produced on specialized farms in a few commercially important areas such as Indiana. In 2002, Indiana duck production was 1.14 million birds (30% of the nation’s total).
The State’s corn and soybean production provides ideal feed supplies for the industry. Indiana poultry farms raised 28.8 million chickens in 2003 (excluding broilers), placing the State 5th in U.S. production. The value of these chickens was $40.4 million. The hatchery business is another area where Indiana leads the nation. The State ranks 2nd in the production of egg-type chicks, with 58.2 million raised in 2003. There were 6 billion eggs produced by 23 million laying hens in 2003, placing Indiana 4th nationally(accounting for 6.9% of total U.S. production).
Source: Indiana State Department of Agriculture's "Possibilities Unbound: The Plan for 2025 Indiana Agriculture’s Strategic Plan"