Canadian cattle numbers rose as of July 1, the first year-over-year increase since 2021 according to 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 lower slaughter, which fell five per cent year over year to 1.6 million head for January to June.
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Producers retained two per cent more beef heifers for breeding, 0.5 per cent more bulls and 0.4 per cent more beef cows.
Dairy heifer inventories also rose by 0.5 per cent and there were 0.4 per cent more dairy cows.
Greater retention of breeding stock and a 1.8 per cent year-over-year increase 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 compared to last July.
International exports of live cattle and calves between January and June decreased by 2.7 per cent to 390,400 head compared to last year.
“Feeder and slaughter cattle prices reached record highs over the first half of 2025, as global demand for beef remained elevated,” StatCan said.
Canadian hog producers reported 13.8 million hogs on farms as of July 1, down 1.3 per cent from a year prior. Total hog slaughter rose 3.3 per cent, year-over-year to 11.0 million head between January and June, supported by strong demand for pork exports.
