Drought Slashed Alberta Cattle Herd

OTTAWA - Feb 19/03 - SNS -- Canadian livestock numbers started 2003 little changed from the previous year on a national level as increases in the number of hogs and rising cattle numbers eastern Canada offset solid decrease in western Canada's cattle herd.

Reporting the latest numbers, Statistics Canada said two years of drought in western Canada have taken their toll on Canada's cattle herd, especially in Alberta. As of January 1, 2003, farmers reported 13.4 million head on their farms, down 2.8% from 13.8 million on January 1, 2002.

Meanwhile, the slowdown in the growth of Canada's hog herd, which began early in 2002, continued throughout the rest of the year. Hog producers reported 14.7 million head on farms as of January 1, 2003, up 2.5% from the previous year. Growth has averaged 5.0% over the past five years.

Farmers also reported 975,600 sheep on their farms as of January 1, 2003, down 1.8% from January 1, 2002.

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