Fluctuating prices and demand, coupled with improved production efficiencies, continued to shape the livestock sector in 2016.
Beef cattle for breeding and feeding purposes decreased 2.4% from 2011 to 2016, with both the cow-calf and the feedlot sectors showing marginal changes in reported cattle.
According to Stats Canada, the number of dairy cattle decreased 3.8% from 2011, while milk production continued to increase.
Pig inventories increased 11.1% from 2011 to 2016, recovering from unfavourable market conditions in the pig sector prior to 2011.
Poultry production increased for both meat and eggs, in response to consumer demand.
