Statistics Canada reports the country's cattle herd has grown slightly

According to new data from Statistics Canada, Canadian cattle numbers rose as of July 1, the first year-over-year increase since 2021.

Canadian cattle producers had 11.9 million cattle and calves on farms as of July 1, up 0.8 per cent from one year earlier.

StatsCan attributed the rise to lower slaughter, which fell five per cent year over year to 1.6 million head for January to June.

Producers retained two per cent more beef heifers for breeding, 0.5 per cent more bulls and 0.4 per cent more beef cows.

Dairy heifer inventories also rose by 0.5 per cent and there were 0.4 per cent more dairy cows.

Greater retention of breeding stock and a 1.8 per cent year-over-year increase in births from January to June supported cattle inventories.

Producers held 1.8 per cent fewer steers and 1.5 per cent fewer feeder heifers compared to last July.