– Tim Petry, Livestock Economist, North Dakota State University Extension Service
On August 20, 2015, Statistics Canada released its Livestock Estimates, July 1, 2015, report which detailed cattle, hog and sheep inventories in Canada (www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/150820/dq150820c-eng.htm). That same day USDA-NASS released the United States and Canadian Cattle and the United States and Canadian Hogs reports (www.nass.usda.gov).
The July 1 U.S. cattle inventory numbers were also previously released by NASS on July 24 in the Cattle report. Those numbers have been discussed in previous In The Cattle Market columns. In summary, the best overall pasture and range conditions in many years in states east of the Continental Divide and record calf prices spurred continued interest in beef cow herd rebuilding. Most U.S. cattle inventory categories saw year over year increases.
All cattle and calves in Canada as of July 1, 2015, totaled 13.005 million head, down 2.1 percent from the 13.290 million the previous year. Beef cows that have calved at 3.8 million were down 3.4 percent from 2014. Heifers one year and over for beef cow replacement at 613,000 head were down just 0.6 percent.
Record high U.S. and Canadian feeder cattle prices in 2011-2013 caused increases in the Canadian beef cow herd in 2012 and 2013. But drought in the U.S. Southern Plains in 2011 that spread to much of the U.S. cattle producing area in 2012 prevented beef herd rebuilding. Now much of the Western Canadian beef cattle producing area is experiencing drought conditions. Alberta has the most beef cows followed by Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia.
It is interesting to note that beef cow numbers in Canada and Texas were close in 2014. Beef cows in Texas increased 6.9 percent in 2015 from 3.91 million head in 2014 to 4.18 million, as moisture conditions improved and herd rebuilding continued there.
On an annual comparative basis, July 1, 2015 total cattle numbers in the U.S. were up 2.2 percent compared to a 2.1 percent decrease in Canada. Beef cow numbers increased 2.5 percent in the U.S. and declined 3.4 percent in Canada with beef cow replacement heifers increasing 6.5 percent in the U.S. and declining 0.6 percent in Canada. The number of milk cows increased 0.5 percent in the U.S. while Canadian number decreased 1.8 percent. Milk cow replacement heifers in the U.S. increased 2.4 percent while declining 3.1 percent in Canada. Calves under 500 lbs. increased 2.2 percent in the U.S. with Canadian calves under one of age decreasing 3.7 percent. The number of U.S. cattle on feed increased 1.7 percent and declined 2.3 percent in Canada.
The wheels are in motion for continued U.S. beef herd rebuilding in 2016. Of course weather is the wild card and no one knows when weather conditions will improve in Canada and the far Western U.S. But with expected cyclically lower prices expected in both the U.S. and Canada the next several years, it will be interesting to see how long the two beef herds continue to move in opposite directions.
On a side note, this will be my last In The Cattle Markets column, as we have decided to make a change in authors. In addition to me, John Anderson, Matt Diersen, and John Michael Riley are also stepping down. We would like to express our appreciation for all the positive comments we have received from readers. Glynn Tonsor will remain as an author and several additional authors will join him in future columns with a new and interesting perspective on the cattle market.