Alberta Cattle Industry Statistics

General

The Alberta cattle industry began in the late 1800s with English and American settlers discovering the many advantages that make Alberta an ideal location to raise cattle. These frontier producers found ways to prosper in the Canadian climate by using progressive management practices and by being early adopters of technology.

That same spirit persists today. Alberta cattle producers are committed to ensuring that their industry makes a positive contribution to the economy in a way that is compatible with the sustained and safe use of the land, water and other resources they employ.

Production Statistics

59% (31,774) of Alberta farms have beef cattle Alberta cattle and calf numbers — 5,930,000 head (39% of Canadian total).

Canada cattle and calves — 15,083,000
Alberta has 2.345 million breeding beef cows and heifers (39% of Canadian total).

Alberta feeds over 2.23 million cattle each year with total annual beef production of over 809,000 tonnes.

Alberta averages 74 beef cows per farm Alberta has 21,067,486 hectares of farmland 32% of all Alberta farmland is natural land for pasture.

11% of all Alberta farmland is tame or seeded pasture land.

Alberta federal and provincial inspected plants processed 2.64 million head of cattle or roughly 67% of Canadian total in 2004 — a 28% increase from 2003.

Contribution to the Economy

Beef cattle production is Alberta’s largest agricultural sector providing $2.6 billion in farm cash receipts annually or 32% of Alberta farm production income.

Alberta’s cattle industry has an economic multiplier effect of 4:1, meaning an overall benefit of over $10.4 billion to the economy Meat product manufacturing is Alberta’s second largest manufacturing industry. In 2004, it accounted for slightly over $5 billion, which was two per cent higher than in 2003. (Stats Can)

Trade Statistics

Alberta leads the nation in cattle and calf inventories with 6.9 million head, roughly 40% of the national total (17.3 million head) Of Alberta’s estimated 2004 beef production, 12% is sold within the province, 50% to other provinces, 30% to the United States and 8% to other countries.

Annual exports of Alberta beef and cattle (interprovincial and international) are valued at approximately $2.05 billion. (2003)

The total value of Alberta beef shipments to the U.S. during 2004 was $1.2 billion. (32% more than 2003)

No live cattle were shipped from Alberta to the U.S. in 2004.