Canada Markets

Statistics Canada has estimated the number of cattle and calves on farm as of July 1 at 12.155 million head, down 180,000 head or 1.5% during the past year, falling for a second year and the lowest number reported since 1988.

The number of head fell by 11,300 on dairy operations to 1.853 million, the lowest in three years, while the number on beef operations fell by 168,700 head on beef operations to 10.302 million head.

By province, the number of cattle on beef operations rose by 8,300 head in Ontario to 935,300 head, fell by 6,600 head on beef operations in Manitoba, fell by 23,300 head in Saskatchewan, by 128,600 head in Alberta and by 3,900 head in British Columbia. The largest drop seen in Alberta results in estimated cattle on beef operations at 5.0783 million head, 49.3% of the national herd while the lowest reported in six years.

As seen on the attached chart, the number of beef cows on cow-calf operations fell by 57,500 head, or 1.8%, during the past year to 3.112 million head as of July 1, the lowest reported in available data back to 2000. The number of replacement heifers reported fell by 12,900 head, or 2.5%, during the same period.

Statistics Canada reports the number of hogs on farms at 13.775 million head, down 1% from one year ago with the July inventory falling for a second year. This is the lowest number reported in eight years. An estimated 30.9% of this number is situated in Quebec, while the 4.255 million head is the lowest reported in eight years. An estimated 25.7% of this herd is reported for Ontario, the lowest July 1 estimate reported in seven years. A further 24% is reported for Manitoba, which is up 1.2% from the previous year, while close to the lowest level reported in nine years.

Cliff Jamieson can be reached at cliff.jamieson@dtn.com

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