Canada’s sheep inventory has remained unchanged for the last two years.
The national flock numbers 1.1 million head with some regional differences in population, said the July 2009 Statistics Canada livestock census.
Regional variations include a small decrease compared to last year in Quebec and larger decreases in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia flocks.
However, Ontario’s flock increased by 6.8 percent and Manitoba by 7.6 percent. Sheep inventories increased in the Atlantic provinces because of the development of local market niches.
The drought in Western Canada in 2001 and 2002 increased exports to a record high as producers sent sheep south. In 2003, with the discovery of BSE in Canadian cattle, the sheep export market collapsed and has remained virtually non-existent since.
Canada continues to import sheep to meet demand. In 2008, 39,200 animals were brought in compared to 26,200 in 2007.
Slaughter numbers have remained fairly steady since 2003 at 723,600 head and per capita meat consumption has remained at slightly more than half a kilogram since 2001.
