US and Canadian cattle inventory down

Published: 19 February, 2009

All cattle and calves in the US and Canada combined totalled 107.7 million head on January 1, down 2 percent from a year ago, according to Statistics Canada and USDA. In a joint report, the agencies said all cows and heifers that have calved, at 46.6 million head, were down 2% from a year ago.

All cattle and calves in Canada as of January 1 totalled 13.2 million head, down 5% from the 13.9 million on January 1, 2008, and 7% below the 14.2 million two years ago. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 5.63 million, were down 6% from the 5.97 million a year ago and 6% below the 6.02 million from two years ago.

The magnitude of the decline in Canadian beef cow numbers was surprising, reflecting the extremely difficult conditions under which Canadian producers had to operate in 2008, according to the CME Group's Daily Livestock Report. It cited a strong currency, very high feed costs and implementation of country of origin labeling in the United States.

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1 totalled 4.5 million head, 2% below the 96 million on January 1, 2008. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 41 million head, were down 2% from the 41.7 million a year ago.

Source: meatingplace.com

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