May 17, 2022

Canada's cattle, calf numbers down 0.5% in January

Canada's cattle inventories continued to contract at the start of 2022.

The country's total cattle and calves on January 1, 2022, were down 0.5% to 11.1 million. Regionally, inventories were up 1.2% to 2.9 million head in the country's east, but down 1.2% to 8.2 million head in the west, due to extreme weather events ranging from record heat and drought conditions to severe flooding, limited forage supplies and increased feed costs.

Beef cow inventories were down for the fifth consecutive year by 1% to 3.5 million head. This is the lowest level since 1990. The beef cow culling rate in 2021 is projected at 12.1%, up from 11.4% in 2020 and the long-term average of 11.4%.

Beef heifers retained for breeding were down 4% to 517,300 head, the lowest level since 2011. Most declines were in the west, reflecting the impact of drought. Saskatchewan was down 8.5%, Manitoba down 6.2%, Alberta down 2.4%, Atlantic provinces down 5% and Quebec down 1.4%. Ontario was up 5.2% and British Columbia was steady.

The number of calves less than one year old were up 1.2% to 3.8 million head, as imports of live calves increased by 36.3% over the second half of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020.

Slaughter heifers and steers were down 2.3% and 3.9%, respectively. Drought conditions and high feed costs spurred sales of feeder and slaughter animals to the United States in the second half of 2021 and contributed to the lower inventory numbers.

Despite a shrinking cow herd, Canada's beef production has been supported by live cattle imports.

However, if drought abates in Canada but persists in the US, more cattle may be pushed north.

For the longer term, a shrinking cow herd and smaller calf numbers in both Canada and the US means tightening North American cattle supplies down the road.

- Canadian Cattlemen