July 28, 2021

Canada' cattle exports drop by close to a quarter in first half of 2021

Canada's cattle exports fell by nearly a quarter in the first half of 2021, said provincial livestock market analyst Jason Wood.

"Year-to-date, Canadian cattle exports in 2021 are the lowest in about 15 years," added Wood.

The relative size of US and Canadian herds is a key factor. The US herd has expanded since 2014 (adding more than 2.6 million head) while the Canadian beef herd has declined by 297,000 head.

Last year, live Canadian cattle exports fell by nearly 670,000 head (or 7%), and are down 46% since 2014.

The other factor is processing demand. Aside from disruptions caused by COVID-19, slaughter plants in Western Canada are running at near full capacity.

- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry