Canadian Cattle Numbers Lower as of July 1, Hogs Higher

The number of cattle in Canada on July 1 was down from a year earlier, while the national hog herd was larger. 

A Statistics Canada livestock inventory report Friday pegged the total number of cattle and calves as of July 1, 2024 at 11.9 million, down 1.4% from a year earlier and the third consecutive annual decline. It also marked the smallest national cattle herd since July 1, 1987. 

Meanwhile, Canadian hog producers reported having 14 million hogs on their farms on July 1 - up 1.3% from the same date one year earlier - largely because of reductions in processing in both Eastern and Western Canada. 

The StatsCan report showed cattle producers retained less breeding stock on July 1, although the number of beef replacement heifers did tick slightly higher, up 0.8%. At the same time, producers held fewer calves (-2.4%) and feeder heifers (-1.5%), yet more steers (+0.7%), compared to a year earlier. 

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

For hogs, the total number of sows and gilts totaled 1.2 million, down 0.8%, while 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, StatsCan said.