Recently, CanFax released Canada’s current cattle on feed numbers for terminal feedlots with 1,000 or more head in the province of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the majority of the feedlots are located in Canada. According to the figures, the number of cattle on feed on July 1, 2008 equaled 783,554 head. This was 11.6 percent less than one year ago and was 10.9 percent less than two years ago. Also, this was the lowest July number since 2004.
The number of cattle placed on feed during June fell 15.5 percent from one year ago and 19.0 percent from two years ago to 106,873 head. Steers placed on feed totaled 67,133 head, which comprised 62.8 percent of the total. Heifers placed on feed totaled 39,740 head. Specifically, placements of feeder cattle weighing less than 600 pounds equaled 9,343 head, 88.9 percent more than a year ago. Placements of cattle weighing 600 to 699 pounds equaled 6,208 head, 68.1 percent higher than last year. Placements weighing 700 to 799 pounds were down 34.0 percent from last year, amounting to 15,349 head.
Placements of feeder cattle weighing more than 800 pounds totaled 75,973 head, which was down 19.7 percent from last year. In the meantime, Canada’s fed cattle marketings during June totaled 152,701 head. This was 11.2 percent less than one year ago and was 4.1 percent less than two years ago. The entire report can be found on the CanFax website at http://www.canfax.ca/.