The combined U.S. and Canada cattle and hog herds have gotten smaller. That’s as both nations respond to weather issues leading to liquidation of cattle herds and attempts to improve profitability for hog producers.
A report from the USDA and Statistics Canada says that on July 1st there were 108.055 million cattle and calves in the U.S. and Canada, 3% lower than last year, most of that in the U.S. All cows and heifers that have calved were 2% lower, reflecting that liquidation, while heifer numbers were also below a year ago, which could be a sign of further contraction.