Cattle
Statistics for cattle and calves on farms in Alberta
Table 1. January 1
| ('000 Head) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018r | 2019r | 2020p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls, 1 year plus | 90.0 | 89.2 | 88.4 | 90.4 | 90.5 | 92.0 | 92.3 | 91.8 | 88.8 | 81.2 |
| Beef cows | 1,607.4 | 1,595.8 | 1,595.9 | 1,574.0 | 1,538.0 | 1,534.8 | 1,554.8 | 1,510.3 | 1,523.6 | 1,464.2 |
| Milk cows | 81.0 | 80.9 | 80.8 | 80.7 | 77.4 | 77.9 | 78.6 | 79.1 | 78.3 | 79.9 |
| Heifers: dairy replacement | 38.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 39.5 | 38.3 | 38.7 | 38.4 | 39.4 |
| Heifers: beef replacement | 219.3 | 218.3 | 235.6 | 237.1 | 218.6 | 232.9 | 239.8 | 236.9 | 231.4 | 200.2 |
| Heifers: slaughter | 575.5 | 615.5 | 594.5 | 570.3 | 521.0 | 480.5 | 446.6 | 455.1 | 465.1 | 450.6 |
| Steers, 1 year plus | 662.6 | 710.5 | 694.8 | 733.2 | 711.5 | 695.0 | 660.4 | 702.7 | 649.1 | 589.3 |
| Calves, under 1 year | 1,580.8 | 1,636.1 | 1,711.4 | 1,705.6 | 1,669.5 | 1,677.4 | 1,619.2 | 1,615.4 | 1,550.3 | 1,600.2 |
| Total | 4,855.0 | 4,985.0 | 5,040.0 | 5,030.0 | 4,865.0 | 4,830.0 | 4,730.0 | 4,730.0 | 4,625.0 | 4,505.0 |
| Total as % of Canada | 39.9 | 40.8 | 41.2 | 41.7 | 41.8 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 40.9 | 40.4 | 40.2 |
Table 2. July 1
| ('000 Head) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls, 1 year plus | 95.9 | 91.0 | 91.7 | 93.2 | 92.2 | 92.7 | 94.9 | 92.2 | 92.1 | 90.3 |
| Beef cows | 1,637.7 | 1,596.1 | 1,585.9 | 1,600.3 | 1,580.1 | 1,539.1 | 1,577.4 | 1,570.9 | 1,559.3 | 1,515.6 |
| Milk cows | 80.6 | 80.5 | 80.6 | 80.2 | 79.9 | 80.4 | 80.0 | 80.5 | 81.2 | 83.4 |
| Heifers: dairy replacement | 40.3 | 41.4 | 40.5 | 40.1 | 38.8 | 37.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 | 41.0 | 42.6 |
| Heifers: beef replacement | 254.6 | 275.4 | 272.0 | 286.3 | 262.1 | 263.1 | 289.8 | 296.3 | 281.3 | 262.2 |
| Heifers: slaughter | 739.6 | 753.7 | 726.4 | 721.6 | 666.6 | 605.6 | 574.8 | 543.3 | 554.0 | 509.0 |
| Steers, 1 year plus | 841.3 | 891.0 | 886.0 | 906.5 | 930.5 | 945.5 | 897.8 | 851.6 | 844.1 | 799.1 |
| Calves, under 1 year | 1,735.0 | 1,725.9 | 1,756.9 | 1,771.8 | 1,774.8 | 1,670.8 | 1,650.7 | 1,660.1 | 1,602.0 | 1,612.8 |
| Total | 5,425.0 | 5,455.0 | 5,440.0 | 5,500.0 | 5,425.0 | 5,235.0 | 5,205.0 | 5,135.0 | 5,055.0 | 4,915.0 |
| Total as % of Canada | 39.6 | 40.3 | 40.4 | 41.2 | 41.7 | 41.5 | 41.5 | 41.0 | 40.7 | 40.2 |
Pigs
Statistics for pigs on farms in Alberta
Table 3. January 1
| ('000 Head) | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019r | 2020p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding stock | 126.8 | 132.8 | 132.7 | 131.7 | 132.4 | 133.9 |
| Sows and bred gilts | 122.5 | 128.2 | 127.9 | 126.9 | 127.5 | 129.0 |
| Boars, 6 months plus | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| All other pigs | 1,263.2 | 1,317.2 | 1,357.3 | 1,393.3 | 1,382.6 | 1,391.1 |
| Under 23 kg | 480.6 | 509.5 | 518.0 | 515.8 | 524.3 | 530.1 |
| 23 to 53 kg | 235.0 | 248.2 | 256.2 | 282.1 | 247.1 | 244.0 |
| 54 to 80 kg | 279.5 | 284.9 | 293.4 | 287.5 | 294.7 | 289.6 |
| Over 81 kg | 268.1 | 274.6 | 289.7 | 307.9 | 316.5 | 327.4 |
| Total | 1,390.0 | 1,450.0 | 1,490.0 | 1,525.0 | 1,515.0 | 1,525.0 |
| Total as % of Canada | 10.5 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 10.9 | 11.0 |
Table 4. July 1
| ('000 Head) | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019r |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding stock | 125.9 | 127.5 | 127.5 | 130.9 | 133.5 | 134.2 |
| Sows and bred gilts | 121.6 | 123.1 | 122.6 | 126.1 | 128.6 | 129.4 |
| Boars, 6 months plus | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| All other pigs | 1,244.1 | 1,267.5 | 1,337.5 | 1,339.1 | 1,361.5 | 1,345.8 |
| Under 23 kg | 483.8 | 491.2 | 523.9 | 489.7 | 519.9 | 545.9 |
| 23 to 53 kg | 227.4 | 217.9 | 247.4 | 266.4 | 268.8 | 229.8 |
| 54 to 80 kg | 292.5 | 279.9 | 282.1 | 295.4 | 275.5 | 276.5 |
| Over 81 kg | 240.4 | 278.5 | 284.1 | 287.6 | 297.3 | 293.6 |
| Total | 1,370.0 | 1,395.0 | 1,465.0 | 1,470.0 | 1,495.0 | 1,480.0 |
| Total as % of Canada | 10.7 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
Sheep
Sheep and lambs on farms in Alberta
Table 5. January 1
| ('000 Head) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Ewes | 97.0 | 84.3 | 87.3 | 86.0 | 90.8 | 91.5 | 92.3 | 91.5 | 89.2 | 88.5 | 88.0 | 90.0 | 90.4 |
| Replacement lambs | 12.9 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 9.9 | 13.4 | 14.4 | 15.2 | 14.8 | 14.2 | 14.4 | 14.3 | 14.5 | 14.2 |
| Market lambs | 38.8 | 33.6 | 33.3 | 40.7 | 42.0 | 43.2 | 45.6 | 41.9 | 37.9 | 33.4 | 31.1 | 29.9 | 28.7 |
| Total | 154.0 | 134.0 | 137.0 | 141.0 | 151.0 | 154.0 | 158.0 | 153.0 | 146.0 | 141.0 | 138.0 | 139.0 | 138.0 |
| Total as % of Canada | 17.4 | 15.8 | 16.2 | 16.5 | 17.2 | 17.4 | 17.7 | 17.8 | 17.7 | 17.3 | 17.0 | 16.8 | 16.5 |
Table 6. July 1
| ('000 Head) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Ewes | 93.4 | 91.1 | 88.9 | 89.9 | 92.6 | 91.6 | 91.4 | 90.2 | 89.4 | 90.1 | 89.8 | 90.4 | 91.3 |
| Replacement lambs | 16.1 | 12.1 | 12.8 | 14.2 | 15.1 | 14.9 | 15.3 | 14.2 | 16.0 | 17.0 | 17.3 | 17.0 | 18.5 |
| Market lambs | 94.5 | 85.4 | 82.7 | 86.1 | 90.3 | 89.3 | 92.1 | 90.7 | 86.8 | 83.1 | 82.3 | 82.9 | 75.4 |
| Total | 209.0 | 193.0 | 189.0 | 195.0 | 203.0 | 201.0 | 204.0 | 200.0 | 197.0 | 195.0 | 194.0 | 195.0 | 190.0 |
| Total as % of Canada | 18.8 | 17.7 | 17.1 | 17.7 | 17.8 | 17.8 | 18.3 | 18.6 | 18.7 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.4 | 18.3 |
Honey
Honey in Alberta
Table 7. Estimated production and value of honey in Alberta (2013 to 2017, 2017r and 2018p)
| Average (2014 to 2018) | 2018r | 2019p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beekeepers – Number | 1,301 | 1,572 | 1,474 | |
| Colonies – Number | 303,356 | 311,000 | 303,500 | |
| Average yield per colony | Pounds | 128 | 124 | 83 |
| Kilograms | 58 | 56 | 37 | |
| Total production | Pounds | 38,854,200 | 38,564,000 | 25,067,000 |
| Metric tonnes | 17,624 | 17,493 | 11,370 | |
| Value of honey ($) | 72,912,400 | 66,472,000 | 45,962,000 | |
Honey in Canada
Table 8. Estimated production and value of honey in Canada** (2013 to 2017, 2017r and 2018p)
| Average (2014 to 2018) | 2018r | 2019p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beekeepers – Number | 9,758 | 10,661 | 10,344 | |
| Colonies – Number | 754,127 | 790,023 | 773,182 | |
| Average yield per colony | Pounds | 123 | 120 | 104 |
| Kilograms | 56 | 55 | 47 | |
| Total production | Pounds | 92,648,200 | 94,996,000 | 80,345,000 |
| Metric tonnes | 42,025 | 43,090 | 36,444 | |
| Value of honey ($)*** | 195,980,800 | 200,816,000 | 173,036,000 | |
Average retail prices
This reports show Alberta's average retail prices for selected products.
Livestock inventory estimates
Commentary on current issues and trends related to the Alberta/Canadian livestock industry.
Weekly Livestock Market Review
Weekly livestock prices and indicators for cattle, hogs and sheep.