Canadian cattle herd sees first year-over-year increase since 2021

Canadian cattle numbers rose as of July 1, the primary year-over-year improve since 2021 in accordance with new data from Statistics Canada.

Canadian cattle producers had 11.9 million cattle and calves on farms as of July 1, up 0.8 per cent from one year earler.

StatCan attributed the rise to decrease slaughter, which fell 5 per cent yr over yr to 1.6 million head for January to June.

Producers retained two per cent extra beef heifers for breeding, 0.5 per cent extra bulls and 0.4 per cent extra beef cows.

Dairy heifer inventories additionally rose by 0.5 per cent and there have been 0.4 per cent extra dairy cows.

Better retention of breeding inventory and a 1.8 per cent year-over-year improve in births from January to June supported cattle inventories.

Producers held 1.8 per cent fewer steers and 1.5 per cent fewer feeder heifers in comparison with final July.

Worldwide exports of dwell cattle and calves between January and June decreased by 2.7 per cent to 390,400 head in comparison with final yr.

“Feeder and slaughter cattle costs reached document highs over the primary half of 2025, as international demand for beef remained elevated,” StatCan mentioned.

Canadian hog producers reported 13.8 million hogs on farms as of July 1, down 1.3 per cent from a yr prior. Complete hog slaughter rose 3.3 per cent, year-over-year to 11.0 million head between January and June, supported by sturdy demand for pork exports.

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