Returns to scale in the production of finisher pigs United States

Using data from a national survey of pork producers, increasing returns to scale was found to exist in the production of finisher pigs. This result was consistent with the increasing concentration of pork production onto fewer, larger operations within the country. The returns-to-scale parameter was higher when producers restricted assembled uniform groups (based on body weight) to sed pigs to market. Overall production was lower on operations where Actinobacillus had been diagnosed.