| | Agri-Food Statistics Update - Issue No.LS10-02 -July 1, 2010
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Collected from a variety of sources, the Statistics and Data Development Branch monitors statistical indicators of agri-food activity for Alberta. The Agri-Food Statistics Update is designed to provide users with commentary on current issues, trends and new developments related to agriculture and the food and beverage processing industries. Up-to-date statistics are supplemented with informative charts and diagrams. To gauge Alberta’s performance, comparative data and information are often available for Canada and the provinces.
Note to Users: The contents of this document may not be used or reproduced without properly accrediting Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Economics and Competitiveness Division, Statistics and Data Development Branch.
July 1, 2010 Livestock Inventory Estimates - Alberta/Canada
On August 19, Statistics Canada released the July 1, 2010 inventory estimates for cattle, pigs, and sheep on farms in Alberta and other Canadian provinces. This issue focuses primarily on the Alberta estimates, which were jointly prepared by Statistics Canada and the Statistics and Data Development Branch of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
The latest estimates show Alberta’s total cattle and calf inventory at 5.51 million head, 5.6 per cent below a year ago. The provincial pig herd contracted 2.3 per cent to 1.50 million head, while the sheep and lamb flock increased 2.3 per cent to 181,000 head.
The estimates present potential marketings (i.e. supply which could become available), based on the size of the breeding herd and imports. Such information is useful to producers and others when making decisions relating to marketings, pricing, future production, as well as in estimating farm income and farm expenses.
As alluded to earlier, determination of the provincial livestock inventory estimates are undertaken jointly with Statistics Canada. The process involves verifying commodity supply and disposition variables to arrive at ending stocks. The supply variables are opening stocks, births and imports (interprovincial/international), while the disposition variables include deaths and condemnations, marketings, and exports (interprovincial/international). Administrative data are used where available, supplemented with some estimates where data are not timely or available. Hence, the inventory estimates are subject to revision. Given this limitation, users are advised to exercise some caution when using the estimates.
Key Messages
The estimated Alberta cattle and calf inventory, as of July 1, 2010, contracted 5.6 per cent to 5.51 million head, from a year ago. This marks the third consecutive "year-over-year" decline.
Favourable cow market prices, and issues surrounding mandatory country of origin labeling may be influencing the continued herd reduction.
The estimated provincial pig herd fell 2.3 per cent to 1.5 million head, compared to 2009. This marks the fourth consecutive “year-over-year” decline and the first quarterly increase since 2006.
Contraction of the pig herd continues to be affected by factors such as high feed costs, relatively strong slaughter hog prices, and mandatory country of origin labeling.
The estimated sheep and lambs on Alberta farms increased 2.3 per cent to 181,000 head compared to the previous year. Favourable pasture conditions and relatively strong market lamb prices are some of the factors behind this growth.
Alberta ranks first in the nation in cattle and calf inventories; third in sheep and lamb inventories; and fourth in hog inventories.
Nationally, inventories of cattle, hogs and sheep declined from a year ago.
Alberta's Cattle and Calf Inventory fell 5.6 per cent
As of July 1, 2010, the estimated provincial cattle and calves herd contracted 5.6 per cent to 5.51 million head, from a year ago. This marks the third consecutive "year-over-year” decline, and is the smallest inventory since 1994.
Alberta's beef breeding herd, comprising cows and replacement heifers, declined by 4.3 per cent to 1,953,000 head. Beef cows fell 4.8 per cent to 1,704,000 head. This marks the third consecutive "year-over-year" decline, and is the smallest since 1992. Likewise, beef replacement heifers fell for the third consecutive year to 249,000 head, a 0.4 per cent drop, and is the lowest number in over twenty years. These declines signal that the beef herd is not re-building.
Also declining were heifers for slaughter, falling 7.6 per cent to 725,000 head. The inventory of calves fell by 4.1 per cent to 1,855,000 head. Down as well, was the size of the provincial dairy herd (cows and heifers), which fell by 0.4 per cent to 128,500 head. Milk cows remained flat at 88,500 head, while replacement dairy heifers decreased by 1.2 per cent to 40,000 head.
Despite improved forage and pasture conditions this spring, favourable cow market prices and issues surrounding mandatory country of origin labeling may be some of the factors behind the continued herd reduction.
Alberta's Hog Inventory decreased 2.3 per cent
As of July 1, 2010, the estimated pigs on Alberta farms totalled 1,495,000 head, down 2.3 per cent, from a year ago. Inventories were down for both the total market hogs and breeding stock.
Total market hogs were estimated at 1,341,900 head, down 1.9 per cent from the previous year. Hogs in the "under 20 kilograms" class contracted 3.5 per cent to 426,400 head, while hogs in the "over 60 kilograms" class dropped 2.5 per cent to 439,000 head. Those in the "20 to 60 kilograms" class remained unchanged at 476,500 head.
The size of the provincial pig breeding herd declined for the eighth consecutive time on a "year-over-year" basis. The estimated number of boars, sows and bred gilts, totalled 153,100 head, 5.2 per cent lower than a year ago. Sows and bred gilts contracted 5.1 per cent to 148,500 head, while boars fell 8.0 per cent to 4,600 head, mainly due to increased use of artificial insemination (A.I).
Contraction of the pig herd continues to be affected by factors such as high feed costs, relatively strong slaughter hog prices, and mandatory country of origin labeling.
Alberta's Sheep and Lamb Inventory increased 2.3 per cent
The estimated number of sheep and lamb on Alberta farms increased by 2.3 per cent to 181,000 head. Ewe numbers went up by 0.1 per cent to 84,700 head, while market lambs rose by 3.5 per cent to 79,100. Ram numbers remained unchanged at 4,000 head, while replacement lambs rose 10.0 per cent to 13,200 head.
Favourable pasture and forage conditions and relatively strong market lamb prices are some of the factors behind this growth.
For a complete copy of this update, please see the attached .pdf file |
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