Livestock estimates, July 1, 2024

Released: 2024-08-23

On July 1, 2024, Canadian cattle and sheep inventories were down compared with the same date one year earlier, while hog inventories were up.

The Canadian cattle herd fell for the third consecutive year on July 1, despite improvements in Western Canadian feed and drought conditions in the first half of 2024. Higher international exports of live cattle helped offset decreases in slaughter caused by labour issues in the Eastern Canadian processing sector.

Canadian hog inventories rose on July 1 despite declines in the pig crop as well as strong international exports, largely because of reductions in processing in both Eastern and Western Canada.

On July 1, Canadian sheep inventories declined for the second consecutive year, as slaughter remained well above the previous five-year average. Average producer prices of slaughter lambs reached record highs in 2024 for the period from January to June, exceeding the record previously attained in 2022.

Cattle and calves

Canadian farmers held 11.9 million cattle and calves on their farms on July 1, down 1.4% from the same date the previous year. This is the smallest cattle herd size observed since July 1, 1987.

Chart 1 
Total cattle inventories, July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024

Canadian cattle producers retained less breeding stock on July 1, 2024, with year-over-year decreases being observed in all breeding stock categories except milk cows (+0.4%) and beef heifers for breeding (+0.8%). Producers held fewer calves (-2.4%) and feeder heifers (-1.5%), yet more steers (+0.7%), compared with July 1, 2023.

From January to June 2024, total cattle and calves slaughter decreased 4.6% year over year to 1.7 million head. By contrast, international exports of cattle and calves rose 15.5% to 398,300 head over the same period, supported by strong prices.

Hogs

Canadian hog producers reported having 14.0 million hogs on their farms on July 1, 2024, up 1.3% from the same date one year earlier. Inventories in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, which, combined, are home to over 80% of Canada's hogs, all rose year over year.

Chart 2 
Total hog inventories, July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024

On July 1, hog producers reported having 1.2 million sows and gilts (-0.8%), and the number of boars decreased by 3.1% year over year to 15,700 head.

The pig crop, which represents the number of live piglets after weaning, fell to 14.9 million from January to June, a 1.1% decrease from the same period one year earlier. This decrease was due in part to Quebec's herd reduction program.

From January to June, total hog slaughter declined 3.6% to 10.7 million head. International exports of live hogs increased 4.2% to 3.5 million head during the same period, as producers in Eastern Canada sought to offset reductions in slaughter.

Sheep and lambs

On July 1, Canadian inventories of sheep and lambs were down 1.3% year over year to 1.0 million head.

Chart 3 
Total sheep inventories, July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024

The sheep breeding herd declined 1.0% year over year on July 1 to 627,500 head, as decreases in inventories of ewes (-0.3%) and replacement lambs (-5.0%) more than offset a rise in rams (+0.4%). Inventories of market lambs declined 1.7% year over year to 407,300 head. For the period from January to June, sheep and lamb slaughter decreased 3.3% year over year to 377,200 head.

In the first half of 2024, international exports of live sheep and lambs fell 46.1% year over year to 6,200 head. Meanwhile, international imports of live sheep and lambs dropped to zero.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).