State of the Ontario Sheep Industry Report - 1997

Table of Contents

1. Sheep & Lamb Inventory
2. 1996 Census
3. US Sheep & Lamb Inventory
4. Market Prices
5. Slaughter
6. Imports - Dressed Meats
7. Exports - Dressed Meats
8. Live Imports from United States
9. Live Exports to United States
10. Purebred Registrations
    
    

Sheep & Lamb Inventory

On August 18^th, Statistics Canada reported a continued decline in sheep and lamb numbers as of July 1, 1997. Inventories dropped 1.7 percent to 831 thousand head. The decline came primarily from smaller producing provinces, while the larger producing provinces showed increases in inventory numbers. Increasingly high slaughter prices in recent years have contributed to high marketing levels. Breeding stock is also down 3.6 percent compared to July 1, 1996. (source: www.statcan.ca)

1996 Census

Census data gives the most accurate estimates of flock size.

Breeding stock numbers for Ontario are down 8.5 percent compared to the last census data from 1991. Other major lamb producing provinces have also reported declining numbers in their breeding flocks. However, rates of decline are slower than in other provinces. Quebec showed a major increase in total sheep and lambs compared to 1991.

On June 4^th, 1996, Ontario's sheep flock showed the following breakdown:

Western Region of Ontario continues to be the leader in sheep numbers for the province. Largest producing county was Grey, followed by Bruce and Simcoe counties.

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US Sheep & Lamb Inventory

(From USDA internet home page)

The USDA mid-year U.S. sheep inventory, released July 18^th, showed 4.8 million breeding ewes one year old and older in the U.S. This is down 5.5 percent from July 1, 1996 and a 0.9 percent decline from January 1, 1997. The Midwestern states experienced the largest percentage decline in ewe numbers as of July 1, posting a decline of nearly 11 percent from a year earlier.

Producers indicated that replacement lamb flock was 12.8 percent smaller than a year ago. Combined with the lower breeding numbers, this indicates another year-on-year decline in sheep numbers is likely for the January 1, 1998 inventory count.

Market lamb numbers, at 4.035 million head, were 0.1 percent larger than a year ago. Part of this is due to the fact that lamb and yearling slaughter from January through June was 5.5 percent lower than the same period in 1996, with lamb births at 4.36 million head, were only 2.5 percent lower. Of the lambs available for market, 265 thousand were over 105 pounds compared to 270 thousand head last year. Market lamb numbers in the 85 to 105 pound weight range were roughly the same as 1996's (460 thousand head). This indicates that there is an opportunity to get through the current heavy weights within the next few weeks. However, failure to do so could extend the heavy carcasses into Fall, keeping lamb prices under pressure.

The 1997 U.S. lamb crop was estimated to be 102 percent of the breeding ewe flock, slightly below last year's lamb crop of 103 percent. The report indicates that 88 percent of the lambs were born from January through June compaed to 86 percent in 1996. Total lambs to be born in 1997 were estimated to be 6 percent lower than 1996's.

Market Prices

Ontario markets continue to remain strong in the first half of 1997. Summary of June's marketings for Ontario and St. Hyacinthe are shown below.

Other than seasonal decline in price over the next two months, prices are expected to remain steady for the near future.

Slaughter

The first six months of 1997 show a 6.4 percent decrease in provincial and federal inspected slaughter of sheep and lambs compared to 1996. Total Canadian statistics show 142,644 sheep & lambs slaughtered by June 30. Ontario has the largest combined slaughter of 73,140 head (51.3 %), followed by Quebec at 34,792 (24.4 %) and Alberta at 31,235 (21.9 %).

U.S. slaughter is also down from a year ago. Statistics show a 6.8 % decline in slaughters (1,923,300 compared to 2,064,404).

Imports - Dressed Meats

Australia remains as our major supplier of mutton. As of June 30, 1997 Canada imported 637 metric tonnes of mutton from Australia out of total mutton imports of 1035 metric tonnes. Boneless mutton accounted for 140 metric tonnes, which is down significantly from last year.

Lamb imports are 19 % higher (4523 metric tonnes), compared to the same period last year (3796 metric tonnes). New Zealand continues to supply the majority of lamb that Canada imports, accounting for 75.5 % (3415 metric tonnes) of lamb imports to June 30^th. Most lamb imports continue to be lamb cuts with bone in (3120 metric tonnes)

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Exports - Dressed Meats

Canada continues to export very little lamb and mutton. However, exports are up by 68 % compared to the first six months of 1996. The majority of our export trade continues to go to the United States, and this is up 12 % over last year. A good portion of our exported lamb in the first 6 months of 1997 went to Mexico. This is a new export market for Canadian lamb and accounts for 48 % of "lamb, bone-in cuts" exported so far this year.

Live Imports from United States

Imports of slaughter sheep and lambs from United States are down considerably in the first six months of 1997 (5625 head). Most of these animals went to slaughter in Ontario (4560 head) with Alberta importing 706 head and Quebec importing 359 head. For the same period in 1996, a total of 15,931 head of slaughter sheep and lambs were imported. For the entire year of 1996. 21,693 head of slaughter sheep and lambs were imported

To date, no feeder sheep and lambs have been imported. Totals for 1996 were 212 head, most of which went to Alberta feedlots (120 head) and the remainder to Ontario (92).

Live Exports to United States

Exports of slaughter sheep and lambs, to the United States are also down compared to the same period in 1996. To June 30^th, 1997, Canada has exported 7053 slaughter sheep and lambs, compared to 15,545 head for the same period of 1996. The majority of these sheep and lambs were from Manitoba (4101), Saskatchewan (1600), and Alberta (1352). Yearly totals for 1996 are 20965 head of slaughter sheep and lambs.

Manitoba is the only province to have exported feeder sheep and lambs so far in 1997. 599 head of feeder sheep and lambs left Manitoba for the United States during the first six month of 1997. This compares to no activity in feeder sheep and lambs in 1996.

Purebred Registrations

Most recent figures available are for 1995. Total sheep registrations for 1995 are 12,742 head with Dorsets accounting for 3,444 registrations, followed by Suffolk with 2,712 registrations and Romanov with 1,267 registrations. Total registrations are down compared to 1994 (12,982), but comparable to 1991 (12,670) and 1992 (12,771).

Quebec led registrations for Dorset with 1,801; and Romanov (925), followed by Ontario for Suffolk (897), and Rideau Arcott (486).

Purebred export transfers were up significantly in 1995 (225) compared to 1994 (130). However, this is still a long way from the record numbers in 1991 when 824 purebred export transfers were applied for.

Data from 1996 Census

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