Jan. 1 Canadian Cattle Numbers Up 2.5%

Mar 02, 2026

Canada’s cattle herd expanded on Jan. 1 for the first time in eight years, providing an early sign of stabilization after a prolonged period of contraction.

A Statistics Canada livestock report on Friday showed Canadian producers held 11.135 million cattle and calves on Jan. 1, 2026, up 2.5% from a year earlier. A StatsCan livestock report released back in August showed an increase in cattle numbers as of July 1, 2025 as well – up 0.8% from the same date the previous year and the first year-over-year increase since 2021.

Today’s numbers marked the first year-over-year increase in national Jan. 1 cattle inventories since 2018 and reflected growth across all major categories. StatsCan largely attributed the increase to higher international imports combined with reduced slaughter and fewer live exports.

Breeding inventories showed notable improvement, lending support to longer-term herd rebuilding. Beef heifers for breeding rose 4.8%, while beef cow numbers increased 1.9% from a year earlier. Calf inventories climbed 4.3% to 3.6 million head, supported in part by a sharp rise in imports. From July to December 2025, international calf imports surged 42.7% year over year to 368,000 head, helping bolster supplies despite tighter domestic production.

At the same time, cattle marketings slowed. Slaughter of cattle and calves from July through December 2025 fell 6.5% to 1.6 million head, while international exports declined 8.9% to 361,300 head. Even with reduced throughput, feeder and slaughter cattle prices pushed to record highs during the second half of 2025, supported by strong global beef demand and historically tight North American supplies.

While Canada is beginning to show tentative signs of herd expansion, the situation south of the border remains more constrained. The USDA’s annual cattle inventory report released earlier this year pegged the U.S. cattle inventory at 86.2 million head as of Jan. 1, 2026, down 0.35% from a year earlier and now the smallest in 75 years. The persistent contraction in U.S. inventories is expected to keep beef supplies tight and prices elevated, reinforcing strong market fundamentals for Canadian cattle producers as herd rebuilding efforts gradually take shape.

Click here to see more...

Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.