In 1996, Canadian livestock produced approximately 783 million kilograms of nitrogen in their manure. Beef cattle were responsible for creating more than 51% of this nitrogen. The contribution of other livestock to these nitrogen totals were dairy cows (16%), hogs (16%), poultry (7%), calves (5%), horses (3%) and sheep (less than 1%).

The estimated total amount of nitrogen from livestock manure by sub-sub-basin area in 1996 is shown on the map. The highest concentrations of nitrogen (over 20 kilograms per hectare) were found in two regions: southwestern Ontario and southeastern Quebec. These two regions are also home to a significant portion of Canada's population. There were other notable areas with at least one sub-sub-basin with nitrogen levels over 20 kilograms per hectare: the west Fraser River area in southern British Columbia, southern and central Alberta and southern Manitoba. There were 18 sub-sub-basins in the highest category of over 20 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare. Thirteen of these 18 sub-sub-basins were located in Ontario and Quebec.

Estimated Nitrogen Production in Livestock Manure by Sub-sub-basin, 1996

Source: Statistics Canada, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division and Agriculture Division

The livestock in the Maitland sub-sub-basin produced the most nitrogen in their manure at an estimated 48 kilograms per hectare. In general, there were few sub-sub-basins that produced the largest amounts of nitrogen per hectare. The sub-sub-basins with the seventh, eight, and ninth highest nitrogen levels per hectare, each produced almost half that of the Maitland sub-sub-basin. In only four sub-sub-basins did livestock produce more than 35 kilograms per hectare of nitrogen. In comparison, the average amount of nitrogen produced in a sub-sub-basin with livestock was 4.5 kilograms per hectare.