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Section 1 - A statistical portrait of agriculture, Canada and provinces: census years 1921 to 2006

  • Canada
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Quebec

  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia

    • Canada

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Canada 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 8,369,489 7,973,031 8,517,007 8,370,991 11,019,286 11,940,978 12,887,388 13,277,997 15,131,722 13,501,904 11,997,608 12,972,038 14,893,034 15,551,449 15,773,527
    Farms reporting .. .. 599,192 493,321 452,480 375,049 313,735 248,751 225,253 185,073 155,945 145,747 142,157 122,066 109,901
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 14 17 24 32 41 53 67 73 77 89 105 127 144
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 3,324,291 4,699,831 6,081,389 4,915,987 4,732,701 5,332,734 5,408,580 8,106,923 5,789,676 9,875,065 9,756,569 10,216,083 11,040,462 13,958,772 15,043,132
    Farms reporting 452,935 437,837 477,663 364,068 287,353 223,401 154,328 122,479 63,602 55,765 36,472 29,592 21,105 15,472 11,497
    Average number per farm reporting 7 11 13 14 16 24 35 66 91 177 268 345 523 902 1,308
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 3,200,467 3,627,116 2,839,948 1,478,737 1,638,194 1,563,531 1,019,997 860,789 593,143 816,712 700,935 935,891 864,850 1,262,448 1,142,877
    Farms reporting 161,838 130,084 116,807 62,566 58,362 38,527 21,453 14,090 10,611 12,905 10,939 13,114 11,790 13,232 11,031
    Average number per farm reporting 20 28 24 24 28 41 48 61 56 63 64 71 73 95 104
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 3,451,752 3,113,909 2,788,795 1,306,634 783,844 511,788 387,303 354,251 .. 358,122 394,953 356,204 443,889 460,569 453,965
    Farms reporting 608,272 582,089 571,284 451,647 317,797 203,215 141,346 111,254 .. 69,178 69,148 58,509 56,707 53,925 54,169
    Average number per farm reporting 6 5 5 3 2 3 3 3 ... 5 6 6 8 9 8
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 41,125,091 61,277,229 58,994,493 64,615,025 67,641,098 69,610,909 75,641,611 87,535,792 87,071,513 92,717,929 87,942,244 94,872,875 102,255,149 126,159,529 125,314,793
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 427,317 366,865 266,073 176,818 119,589 99,128 86,697 56,466 42,661 28,240 26,484 22,712
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 151 184 262 428 732 878 1,069 1,557 2,224 3,621 4,764 5,518

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Newfoundland and Labrador 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number .. .. .. 7,944 8,085 7,320 8,554 7,138 7,061 6,963 7,717 8,446 8,252 9,483 11,826
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 1,920 1,426 1,014 965 560 440 326 291 234 202 171 133
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 4 6 7 9 13 16 21 27 36 41 55 89
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number .. .. .. 1,712 1,820 1,554 7,307 14,639 15,795 19,076 16,209 15,625 4,452 2,689 1,999
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 380 219 135 150 171 84 66 48 35 35 31 25
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 5 8 12 49 86 188 289 338 446 127 87 80
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number .. .. .. 17,519 18,540 15,320 14,381 9,384 9,159 7,435 6,863 8,918 6,402 7,888 4,642
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 1,432 1,205 738 690 306 247 158 129 130 124 109 82
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 12 15 21 21 31 37 47 53 69 52 72 57
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number .. .. .. 2,874 1,715 1,152 1,061 629 .. 340 410 309 275 288 286
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 2,570 1,539 998 931 474 .. 158 153 113 80 72 77
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 1 1 1 1 1 ... 2 3 3 3 4 4
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number .. .. .. 73,714 105,783 227,929 417,836 808,919 943,499 932,482 1,286,877 1,304,604 1,477,816 1,720,697 1,570,740
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 2,638 1,593 996 720 258 209 164 118 100 99 74 71
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 28 66 229 580 3,135 4,514 5,686 10,906 13,046 14,927 23,253 22,123

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Prince Edward Island

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Prince Edward Island 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 109,948 100,487 94,377 97,924 123,700 121,059 125,224 106,062 110,396 102,454 100,373 94,573 94,611 84,791 86,435
    Farms reporting .. .. 10,595 9,040 8,292 6,549 5,400 3,692 2,921 2,310 1,954 1,610 1,384 1,072 923
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 9 11 15 18 23 29 38 44 51 59 68 79 94
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 39,172 40,586 48,205 72,499 46,676 54,873 82,907 100,936 78,691 116,843 114,836 106,728 117,560 126,065 123,192
    Farms reporting 9,365 8,416 8,575 7,447 5,286 3,874 2,824 2,046 1,169 1,062 680 460 315 193 149
    Average number per farm reporting 4 5 6 10 9 14 29 49 67 110 169 232 373 653 827
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 105,884 78,478 44,269 34,386 33,356 23,926 15,106 8,484 6,272 7,619 6,795 3,394 2,996 3,589 3,901
    Farms reporting 6,666 4,726 3,376 1,843 1,528 964 539 241 139 140 110 79 74 68 69
    Average number per farm reporting 16 17 13 19 22 25 28 35 45 54 62 43 40 53 57
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 32,026 29,956 28,045 21,349 14,557 7,867 4,967 2,941 .. 2,317 2,357 1,891 1,869 1,565 1,921
    Farms reporting 11,868 10,825 9,908 8,961 7,387 4,836 3,217 1,532 .. 687 657 432 379 289 288
    Average number per farm reporting 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 ... 3 4 4 5 5 7
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 797,319 873,949 807,352 978,019 812,343 509,277 352,461 268,642 268,252 222,729 275,656 429,724 352,488 365,182 447,061
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 8,056 6,889 4,230 2,584 1,235 887 694 428 298 154 169 152
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 121 118 120 136 218 302 321 644 1,442 2,289 2,161 2,941

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Nova Scotia

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Nova Scotia 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 266,363 221,001 204,894 166,202 187,425 163,690 147,636 130,920 137,164 140,209 132,624 128,619 128,971 108,401 103,687
    Farms reporting .. .. 28,879 19,955 17,641 10,581 7,759 4,614 3,947 3,439 2,687 2,329 2,123 1,705 1,556
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 7 8 11 15 19 28 35 41 49 55 61 64 67
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 47,457 43,865 44,303 48,216 32,670 46,856 57,499 79,765 73,433 139,344 136,198 133,640 130,707 124,935 95,131
    Farms reporting 25,681 20,383 17,891 11,552 6,869 3,774 2,132 1,271 834 763 421 329 217 196 164
    Average number per farm reporting 2 2 2 4 5 12 27 63 88 183 324 406 602 637 580
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 271,742 196,344 138,209 95,396 83,215 64,654 38,827 35,837 38,703 42,986 37,996 31,670 23,506 24,896 25,195
    Farms reporting 14,905 9,723 7,382 4,071 3,460 2,231 1,169 647 508 506 374 285 235 276 269
    Average number per farm reporting 18 20 19 23 24 29 33 55 76 85 102 111 100 90 94
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 54,439 43,074 36,172 25,975 17,865 8,917 5,739 3,717 .. 3,297 3,171 2,957 2,907 3,009 3,705
    Farms reporting 29,558 23,821 18,148 15,347 11,630 5,841 3,514 1,794 .. 1,049 927 780 648 592 643
    Average number per farm reporting 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 ... 3 3 4 4 5 6
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 972,409 1,244,718 1,113,218 1,630,305 1,908,524 2,184,995 2,800,869 3,055,813 2,992,860 3,435,103 3,050,298 3,616,704 3,558,559 4,084,846 4,248,495
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 14,151 11,417 5,907 3,253 1,472 1,384 1,305 792 640 483 560 527
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 115 167 370 861 2,076 2,162 2,632 3,851 5,651 7,368 7,294 8,062

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    New Brunswick

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    New Brunswick 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 230,312 213,450 206,993 161,897 183,645 160,159 136,467 112,686 121,088 110,942 107,131 105,137 100,297 91,176 89,191
    Farms reporting .. .. 27,098 20,239 16,903 9,961 6,788 4,020 3,303 2,733 2,216 1,926 1,736 1,421 1,262
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 8 8 11 16 20 28 37 41 48 55 58 64 71
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 75,905 85,012 68,018 78,393 53,856 47,126 34,126 56,330 39,972 89,620 101,144 76,093 74,471 137,006 107,254
    Farms reporting 24,489 22,606 19,553 15,009 9,731 5,087 2,893 1,728 941 849 406 291 225 195 124
    Average number per farm reporting 3 4 3 5 6 9 12 33 42 106 249 261 331 703 865
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 187,524 143,677 92,556 55,223 63,980 53,896 28,235 17,256 12,852 13,317 9,329 10,217 7,266 9,601 7,341
    Farms reporting 14,230 9,725 7,730 3,514 3,097 1,762 831 366 262 223 179 161 127 148 131
    Average number per farm reporting 13 15 12 16 21 31 34 47 49 60 52 63 57 65 56
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 62,448 51,157 45,164 31,019 19,256 9,317 6,104 4,055 .. 2,972 3,339 3,133 2,757 2,661 2,973
    Farms reporting 29,231 25,402 21,939 18,259 12,318 5,761 3,550 1,873 .. 930 839 667 552 471 476
    Average number per farm reporting 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 ... 3 4 5 5 6 6
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 985,562 1,281,671 1,101,921 1,230,565 1,124,585 1,039,718 1,338,828 1,761,982 2,046,488 2,241,161 2,668,055 2,413,042 2,663,684 3,487,452 3,272,263
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 17,783 13,729 6,952 3,798 1,686 1,213 1,093 651 494 351 305 286
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 69 82 150 353 1,045 1,687 2,050 4,098 4,885 7,589 11,434 11,441

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Quebec

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Quebec 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 1,594,710 1,707,449 1,757,187 1,640,840 2,002,179 1,915,230 1,797,646 1,780,773 1,759,393 1,665,691 1,525,582 1,445,906 1,439,743 1,362,788 1,393,434
    Farms reporting .. .. 129,253 111,728 104,572 83,591 65,887 48,620 38,610 31,570 26,062 22,388 19,658 16,100 14,016
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 14 15 19 23 27 37 46 53 59 65 73 85 99
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 690,857 728,210 808,017 1,108,306 887,094 912,125 1,173,687 1,383,581 1,617,159 3,440,724 2,927,820 2,909,251 3,443,832 4,267,365 4,255,637
    Farms reporting 105,885 96,805 107,053 88,558 68,287 47,599 30,683 17,428 9,067 7,993 4,706 3,614 3,040 2,743 2,454
    Average number per farm reporting 7 8 8 13 13 19 38 79 178 430 622 805 1,133 1,556 1,734
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 856,169 733,684 526,087 316,418 338,600 194,665 112,438 88,425 48,478 112,121 116,025 121,253 151,557 254,053 306,808
    Farms reporting 67,992 51,537 49,537 27,516 24,625 12,493 5,059 2,060 976 1,723 1,261 1,117 1,088 1,366 1,337
    Average number per farm reporting 13 14 11 11 14 16 22 43 50 65 92 109 139 186 229
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 332,533 301,419 332,734 232,863 163,565 97,430 62,138 43,543 .. 24,682 25,481 25,787 25,108 22,284 26,522
    Farms reporting 123,534 114,351 125,781 114,420 89,971 56,973 32,432 19,886 .. 7,047 6,607 5,307 4,518 3,838 4,259
    Average number per farm reporting 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 ... 4 4 5 6 6 6
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 5,252,340 7,861,959 8,062,991 10,090,003 10,882,482 12,935,030 18,399,326 22,586,143 23,020,076 22,239,226 20,503,425 23,035,296 25,440,825 29,212,229 28,899,216
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 89,506 75,018 52,382 31,908 16,670 11,079 9,170 4,949 3,611 2,401 2,144 2,271
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 113 145 247 577 1,355 2,078 2,425 4,143 6,379 10,596 13,625 12,725

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Ontario

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Ontario 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 2,633,562 2,514,344 2,639,488 2,465,875 2,901,670 3,115,678 3,136,956 3,082,015 3,159,508 2,898,494 2,441,785 2,285,954 2,285,996 2,140,731 1,982,651
    Farms reporting .. .. 150,427 120,899 111,021 95,041 79,906 64,295 56,923 47,515 39,647 35,584 33,394 28,209 25,040
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 18 20 26 33 39 48 56 61 62 64 68 76 79
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 1,386,081 1,359,176 1,882,012 1,755,490 1,548,280 1,686,340 1,935,595 2,361,667 1,913,661 3,165,837 3,118,590 2,924,936 2,831,082 3,457,346 3,950,592
    Farms reporting 138,945 115,066 121,349 93,564 73,053 56,378 41,827 30,626 18,622 18,415 12,933 9,429 6,777 4,972 4,070
    Average number per farm reporting 10 12 16 19 21 30 46 77 103 172 241 310 418 695 971
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 978,892 1,044,624 661,775 360,201 393,811 341,086 265,396 216,271 140,832 251,537 209,593 251,620 231,087 337,625 311,162
    Farms reporting 41,771 36,104 24,305 11,338 11,005 8,681 5,794 4,409 3,300 4,503 3,708 4,194 3,592 3,978 3,408
    Average number per farm reporting 23 29 27 32 36 39 46 49 43 56 57 60 64 85 91
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 669,048 577,322 531,960 260,627 139,661 88,864 75,355 79,869 .. 74,986 74,961 75,132 76,553 83,337 97,285
    Farms reporting 172,030 157,493 144,396 103,699 60,450 34,613 25,366 23,308 .. 14,535 13,523 12,358 11,829 11,258 12,333
    Average number per farm reporting 4 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 ... 5 6 6 6 7 8
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 15,526,517 22,524,189 21,763,568 23,767,391 24,933,604 24,708,245 25,308,639 31,509,963 29,972,196 33,915,205 32,008,175 34,059,285 35,596,946 43,624,696 44,101,552
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 103,348 87,825 60,342 36,494 22,236 20,629 20,675 13,936 11,221 8,295 8,306 7,397
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 230 284 409 694 1,417 1,453 1,640 2,297 3,035 4,291 5,252 5,962

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Manitoba

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Manitoba 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 645,925 668,878 705,337 671,183 871,480 995,560 1,151,179 1,138,075 1,399,877 1,175,966 1,114,720 1,108,780 1,355,162 1,424,427 1,573,097
    Farms reporting .. .. 49,427 42,513 39,036 33,314 28,389 22,434 20,540 15,995 13,868 12,975 12,807 11,333 10,217
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 14 16 22 30 41 51 68 74 80 85 106 126 154
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 200,167 390,043 503,407 337,953 310,423 431,462 499,192 1,070,571 625,934 874,995 1,071,195 1,287,196 1,777,352 2,540,220 2,932,548
    Farms reporting 34,080 35,373 41,477 33,007 25,893 22,045 16,048 14,201 6,069 5,098 3,563 2,969 2,064 1,668 1,188
    Average number per farm reporting 6 11 12 10 12 20 31 75 103 172 301 434 861 1,523 2,468
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 112,788 216,790 246,169 65,481 73,123 81,325 50,499 42,500 21,001 36,363 24,693 36,860 38,152 84,798 68,096
    Farms reporting 6,984 4,891 6,031 2,327 2,307 1,778 1,071 752 480 598 473 593 526 733 644
    Average number per farm reporting 16 44 41 28 32 46 47 57 44 61 52 62 73 116 106
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 355,747 324,659 301,763 130,887 75,055 50,798 37,015 33,104 .. 31,284 40,691 44,130 68,783 62,791 46,580
    Farms reporting 46,448 45,001 47,618 39,004 28,679 20,229 14,149 11,040 .. 5,593 5,540 4,203 4,155 3,730 3,646
    Average number per farm reporting 8 7 6 3 3 3 3 3 ... 6 7 10 17 17 13
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 3,227,499 5,022,258 5,747,907 6,457,849 5,989,665 6,266,811 5,844,235 6,677,815 5,857,913 6,155,042 6,298,131 6,409,151 6,403,908 7,985,741 7,891,068
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 38,328 33,097 25,102 17,181 12,487 9,323 7,870 5,160 3,614 1,904 1,628 1,391
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 168 181 250 340 535 628 782 1,221 1,773 3,363 4,905 5,673

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Saskatchewan

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Saskatchewan 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 1,295,910 1,188,884 1,241,145 1,274,849 1,869,032 2,121,107 2,397,979 2,645,032 3,132,420 2,418,457 2,050,576 2,285,844 2,723,642 2,899,502 3,363,235
    Farms reporting .. .. 105,300 83,533 75,039 65,193 54,672 45,577 42,348 32,805 26,389 25,091 25,108 22,555 21,007
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 12 15 25 33 44 58 74 74 78 91 108 129 160
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 419,709 949,055 943,711 533,263 591,902 640,801 488,173 1,145,274 491,269 574,334 599,021 808,968 757,027 1,109,797 1,388,886
    Farms reporting 66,583 78,477 83,889 58,624 48,367 40,693 26,987 26,075 12,246 9,177 5,778 4,968 2,848 1,677 930
    Average number per farm reporting 6 12 11 9 12 16 18 44 40 63 104 163 266 662 1,493
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 194,660 281,013 330,034 136,136 142,696 188,961 127,799 144,594 83,859 77,052 53,275 92,181 72,464 149,389 132,359
    Farms reporting 4,128 5,055 8,324 4,263 3,983 3,238 1,984 1,690 1,136 1,132 1,021 1,530 1,297 1,702 1,258
    Average number per farm reporting 47 56 40 32 36 58 64 86 74 68 52 60 56 88 105
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 1,077,882 997,426 800,693 303,853 170,769 110,314 74,674 65,123 .. 60,180 67,484 53,843 66,372 71,306 65,914
    Farms reporting 108,002 111,413 107,477 79,363 57,407 39,793 28,174 22,776 .. 13,474 13,420 10,564 9,472 9,048 8,531
    Average number per farm reporting 10 9 7 4 3 3 3 3 ... 4 5 5 7 8 8
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 7,474,024 10,660,031 9,731,038 8,587,281 8,219,286 6,924,625 5,393,149 5,081,934 4,217,426 4,410,585 3,769,683 3,618,109 3,516,027 4,683,093 4,784,631
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 76,566 67,408 54,338 39,573 31,178 24,274 19,666 12,682 8,902 4,103 3,045 2,222
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 112 122 127 136 163 174 224 297 406 857 1,538 2,153

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    Alberta

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    Alberta 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 1,383,552 1,124,615 1,342,130 1,563,019 2,449,211 2,879,399 3,439,734 3,702,125 4,614,372 4,192,887 3,827,143 4,756,365 5,942,257 6,615,201 6,369,116
    Farms reporting .. .. 79,918 66,971 63,432 58,129 52,944 44,575 44,569 37,134 33,498 34,912 36,560 31,774 28,751
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 17 23 39 50 65 83 104 113 114 136 163 208 222
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 423,258 1,052,128 1,705,528 930,714 1,211,508 1,469,969 1,092,672 1,815,539 878,213 1,199,397 1,454,824 1,729,870 1,729,810 2,027,533 2,052,067
    Farms reporting 41,029 54,512 69,554 49,660 45,643 41,017 28,544 26,204 12,513 9,994 6,538 6,148 4,173 2,677 1,576
    Average number per farm reporting 10 19 25 19 27 36 38 69 70 120 223 281 415 757 1,302
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 431,464 785,929 674,918 330,503 404,820 496,882 301,397 244,926 189,258 201,294 179,123 305,642 259,817 307,302 222,340
    Farms reporting 4,110 6,784 8,742 5,327 5,785 5,274 3,203 2,511 2,408 2,332 2,148 3,155 2,814 2,987 2,181
    Average number per farm reporting 105 116 77 62 70 94 94 98 79 86 83 97 92 103 102
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 806,244 731,739 649,216 261,133 154,672 113,222 93,729 88,809 .. 118,708 135,025 109,237 149,960 159,962 155,533
    Farms reporting 72,992 79,284 81,363 60,766 42,531 29,636 24,764 22,292 .. 19,291 20,921 17,782 17,951 17,807 17,219
    Average number per farm reporting 11 9 8 4 4 4 4 4 ... 6 6 6 8 9 9
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 4,921,870 7,529,924 7,953,306 8,347,509 9,443,521 9,204,677 8,440,447 7,923,093 7,980,682 9,190,525 8,852,415 8,702,434 9,485,635 12,175,246 11,757,860
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 60,215 55,086 46,072 34,247 26,005 22,299 18,166 12,169 8,867 5,610 5,055 3,935
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 139 171 200 246 305 358 506 727 981 1,691 2,409 2,988

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.

    British Columbia

    Table 1.3
    Selected agricultural data, selected livestock data, Canada and provinces, census years 1921 to 2006
    British Columbia 1921 1931 1941 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
    Total cattle and calves1  Empty cell
    Number 209,207 233,923 325,456 321,258 422,859 461,776 546,013 573,171 690,443 789,841 689,957 752,414 814,103 814,949 800,855
    Farms reporting .. .. 18,295 16,523 15,118 11,676 11,025 10,364 11,652 11,246 9,333 8,698 9,185 7,726 6,996
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... 18 19 28 40 50 55 59 70 74 87 89 105 114
    Total pigs  Empty cell
    Number 41,685 51,756 78,188 49,441 48,472 41,628 37,422 78,621 55,549 254,895 216,732 223,776 174,169 165,816 135,826
    Farms reporting 6,878 6,199 8,322 6,267 4,005 2,799 2,240 2,729 2,057 2,348 1,399 1,349 1,411 1,120 817
    Average number per farm reporting 6 8 9 8 12 15 17 29 27 109 155 166 123 148 166
    Total sheep and lambs  Empty cell
    Number 61,344 146,577 125,931 67,474 86,053 102,816 65,919 53,112 42,729 66,988 57,243 74,136 71,603 83,307 61,033
    Farms reporting 1,052 1,539 1,380 935 1,367 1,368 1,113 1,108 1,155 1,590 1,536 1,870 1,913 1,865 1,652
    Average number per farm reporting 58 95 91 72 63 75 59 48 37 42 37 40 37 45 37
    Horses and ponies  Empty cell
    Number 61,385 57,157 63,048 36,054 26,729 23,907 26,521 32,461 .. 39,356 42,034 39,785 49,305 53,366 53,246
    Farms reporting 14,609 14,499 14,654 9,258 5,885 4,535 5,243 6,279 .. 6,414 6,561 6,303 7,123 6,820 6,697
    Average number per farm reporting 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 ... 6 6 6 7 8 8
    Total hens and chickens  Empty cell
    Number 1,967,551 4,278,530 2,713,192 3,452,389 4,221,305 5,609,602 7,345,821 7,861,488 9,772,121 9,975,871 9,229,529 11,284,526 13,759,261 18,820,347 18,341,907
    Farms reporting .. .. .. 16,726 14,803 9,752 7,060 6,362 7,831 7,894 5,581 4,914 4,840 5,198 4,460
    Average number per farm reporting ... ... ... 206 285 575 1,040 1,236 1,248 1,264 1,654 2,296 2,843 3,621 4,113

    Symbols

    • x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
    • 0 true zero or a value rounded to zero
    • xxfor confidentiality reasons, data have been combined with those of the preceding size class
    • .. not available for a specific reference period
    • ...not applicable

    Notes

    The definition of a census farm changed between 1921 and 2006. These changes affect the comparability of data among censuses. For a summary of these changes, refer to Census terms.

    Data for Newfoundland are not included in the Canada figures for the 1921, 1931 and 1941 Censuses of Agriculture since Newfoundland did not join Canada until 1949.

    1. Comparability among censuses prior to 1996 and those after is affected by a change in census date from the first week of June to mid-May when a lower percentage of calvings would have occurred.

    Source

    Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture.
    Date Modified: 2009-01-30

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