Extract: There were 78 percent fewer hog farmers in 1978 than in 1950 but they produced about as much pork, and were located in the same regions of the country. The hog industry has moved rapidly to fewer and larger operations that draw on more capital-intensive technologies, like special housing with automated cleaning and feeding equipment. Differences are found in the characteristics and technical input/output ratios of smaller vs. larger operations, with apparent advantages for large operations in many important areas. These findings are based on a 1981 survey of hog producers.