Centre for Energy and Transportation Statistics
Energy Section

Transmission pipelines are establishments primarily engaged in the pipeline transportation of natural gas from gas fields or processing plants to local distribution systems.

Confidentiality

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Table of contents

• A – General Information: Purpose of survey, Data-sharing agreements and Data linkage
• B – Reporting Instructions
• C – Supply of Natural Gas Unit of Measure
• D – Imports
• E – Receipts from Domestic Sources
• F – Average Heating Value in Gigajoules/Thousand Cubic Meters
• G – Exports (Specify Port of Exit)
• H – Domestic Deliveries
• I – Report Amounts of Gas Delivered to Consumers
• J – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Marine Terminals
• K – Consumed Own Fuel
• L – Line Pack Fluctuation
• M – Metering Differences, Line Loss, Other Unaccounted Adjustments
• N – In-transit Shipments of Natural Gas
• O – Ex-transit Shipments
• P – Thousands of Cubic Metre Kilometres (10³m³km)

A – General information

Purpose of survey

The purpose of this survey is to obtain information on the supply of, and demand for, energy in Canada. This information serves as an important indicator of Canadian economic performance, and is used by all levels of government in establishing informed policies in the energy area. In the case of public utilities, it is used by governmental agencies to fulfill their regulatory responsibilities. The private sector also uses this information in the corporate decision-making process. Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organizations with which you do not want to share your data.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as well as with the provincial and territorial government ministries responsible for the energy sector, the Canada Energy Regulator, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Data linkage

To enhance the data from this survey, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

B – Reporting Instructions

Please report information for a specific reference month 2025.

Please complete all sections as applicable.

If the information requested is unknown, please provide your best estimate.

Value (cost to customer): reported dollar values should exclude all taxes. Further, rebates paid to the customer should be deducted to arrive at "value".

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the Monthly Natural Gas Transmission Survey. If you need more information, please call 1-877-604-7828.

Supply

C – Supply of Natural Gas Unit of Measure

Amounts: report amounts (1000m³ or Gigajoules) of natural gas received and delivered during the month under review.

D – Imports

Report total amount of natural gas carried into Canada, by port of entry.

Inclusion: amounts of gas moving in transit (E.g.: from the U.S., through Canada, and back into the U.S.)

Exclusion: Receipts from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) marine terminals

E – Receipts from Domestic Sources

Report volumes of gas received from sources such as:

Fields

Report amounts of gas received from fields connected directly to your company's transmission system. Field flared and waste and re-injection should be deducted from this amount.

Field plants  

Report amounts of gas received at the processing or re-processing plant gate after the deduction of shrinkage, plant uses and losses.

Exclusions:

• Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) fractionation plants
• Mainline straddle plants;

 Gas gathering systems

Report amounts of gas received from gas gathering systems connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) fractionation plants and mainline straddle plants

Exclusion:

• Field gas plants

Other transmission pipelines

Report amounts of gas received from other transmission pipelines (NAICS 486210) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Transmission pipelines are establishments primarily engaged in the pipeline transportation of natural gas from gas fields or processing plants to local distribution systems.

Storage facilities

Report amounts of gas received from storage facilities (NAICS 493190) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Storage facilities include natural gas storage caverns and liquefied natural gas storage, but exclude establishments primarily engaged liquefaction and regasification of natural gas for purposes of transport (NAICS 488990).

Distributors (utility distribution systems)

Report amounts of gas received from gas distributors (NAICS 221210) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Gas distributors are establishments primarily engaged in the distribution of natural or synthetic gas to the ultimate consumers through a system of mains.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) marine terminals

Report amounts of gas received from LNG marine terminals (NAICS 488990) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

LNG marine terminals are establishments primarily engaged with the liquefaction and regasification of natural gas for purposes of transport.

F – Average Heating Value in Gigajoules/ Thousand Cubic Meters

Report average heat content of your natural gas receipts for the reported reference month.

Disposition

G – Exports, Specify Port of Exit

Report total amount of natural gas this transmission pipeline physically exported from Canada to the United States, by port of exit.

Inclusion: amounts of gas moving (E.g.: from Canada, through the U.S., and back into Canada)

Exclusion: Deliveries to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) marine terminals

H – Domestic Deliveries

Report amount of natural gas delivered to facilities and pipelines such as:

Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) fractionation plants and mainline straddle plants

Exclusion:

• Field gas plants
• Other transmission pipelines

Report amounts of gas delivered to other transmission pipelines (NAICS 486210) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Transmission pipelines are establishments primarily engaged in the pipeline transportation of natural gas from gas fields or processing plants to local distribution systems.

Storage facilities

Report amounts of gas delivered to storage facilities (NAICS 493190) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Storage facilities include natural gas storage caverns and liquefied natural gas storage but exclude establishments primarily engaged liquefaction and regasification of natural gas for purposes of transport (NAICS 488990).

Distributors (utility distribution systems)

Report amounts of gas delivered to gas distributors (NAICS 221210) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

Gas distributors are establishments primarily engaged in the distribution of natural or synthetic gas to the ultimate consumers through a system of mains.

I – Report Amounts of Gas Delivered to Consumers and report the number of customers

Industrial power generation plants

Report gas delivered to electric power generation plants (NAICS 2211) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the generation of bulk electric power by natural gas.

Other industrial

Deliveries to Other Industrial Consumers

Report gas delivered to industrial establishments other than power generation plants.

Inclusions:

• Agriculture and forestry
• Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
• Construction
• Manufacturing

Exclusions:

• Electric power generation
• Wholesale and retail trade
• Transportation and warehousing
• Other commercial buildings (e.g., public institutions)
• Natural gas transmission pipelines
• Natural gas storage facilities
• Natural gas distributors

Commercial and institutional

Report gas delivered to commercial and institutional establishments.

Inclusions:

• Wholesale and retail trade
• Transportation and warehousing
• Other commercial buildings (e.g., public institutions)

Value (cost to customer): dollar values exclude provincial taxes (if applicable), goods and services tax (GST) and harmonized sales tax (HST). Further, rebates paid to the customer should be deducted in order to arrive at "value".

J – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Marine Terminals

Report amounts of gas delivered to LNG marine terminals (NAICS 488990) connected directly to your company's transmission system.

LNG marine terminals are establishments primarily engaged liquefaction and regasification of natural gas for purposes of transport.

K – Consumed Own Fuel

Report amount of gas consumed to fuel this transmission system.

L – Line Pack Fluctuation

Report the change in line pack between the first and last day of the reference month.

M – Metering Differences, Line Loss, Other Unaccounted Adjustments

Report the difference between the total supply and total disposition. This difference includes leakage or other losses, discrepancies due to metering inaccuracies and other variants, particularly billing lag.

N – In-transit Shipments of Natural Gas

Report total amount of natural gas received into Canada with the intention of exporting it back to the United States. (Re-Export)

O – Ex-transit Shipments

Report total amount of natural gas delivered to the United States with the intention of importing it back to Canada. (Re-Import)

P – Thousands of Cubic Metre Kilometres (10³m³km)

Please report the volume of natural gas transmitted (in 10³m³) multiplied by the distance (in km) each shipment has travelled.

Example:

• Step 1) 2 000 cubic metres transported over 5 km is equal to 10 000 cubic metre km.
• Step 2) To report in 10³m³km, divide 10 000 cubic metre km by 1 000, which equals 10 cubic metre km.

Thank you for your participation.

Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2025 Biannual Potato Area and Yield Survey - June. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

Your answers are confidential.

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.

Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Help Line: 1-877-949-9492 or TTY 1-855-382-7745

Table of contents

• A - Reporting instructions
• B - Definitions
• C - Question 1 and 2

A - Reporting instructions

• When precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimates.

B - Definitions

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Current main activity of the business or organization

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational unit(s) targeted by this questionnaire only, and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

C - Question 1 and 2

Are you growing any potatoes for sale this year? 

What is the total area of potatoes planted in this crop year?

Please report for the entire operation. Report the area of potatoes planted on land owned or rented by all partners in the operation.

Please report all planting intentions, if you have not completed your planting activities when completing this survey.

Crop Year

The period of time between one year's harvest to the next.

For most provinces, the crop year is from August to the following July.

However, in British Columbia, they could harvest potatoes as early as June so their crop year could run from June to the following May.

Thank you for your participation.

Why do we conduct this survey?

The purpose of this survey is to collect information for producing national and provincial level estimates of potato production. These estimates will be used to assess the economic health of the industry. Agricultural producers and industry analysts will work with this information to make production and marketing decisions, and government analysts will use it to develop agricultural policies in Canada.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Enterprise Statistics Division
150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at Statistics Canada Help Desk or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agency of Prince Edward Island, as well as with the Manitoba Department of Agriculture.

For agreements with provincial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name modifications should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

• Legal name:
• Operating name (if applicable):

2. Verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

• First name:
• Last name:
• Title:
• Preferred language of communication:
  • English
  • French 
• Mailing address (number and street):
• City:
• Province, territory or state:
• Postal code or ZIP code:
• Country:
  • Canada
  • United States
• Email address:
• Telephone number (including area code):
• Extension number (if applicable):
  The maximum number of characters is 10.
• Fax number (including area code):

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

• Operational
• Not currently operational
  Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
  • Seasonal operations
    • When did this business or organization close for the season?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
  • Ceased operations
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Bankruptcy
      • Liquidation
      • Dissolution
      • Other - Specify the other reasons for ceased operations
  • Sold operations
    • When was this business or organization sold?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the buyer?
  • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
    • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
    • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
  • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
    • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
    • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
  • No longer operating due to other reasons
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

• This is the current main activity
• This is not the current main activity
  Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity:
  • e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as: ?

• Yes
  When did the main activity change?
  Date:
• No

6. Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

• Farming or logging operation
• Construction company or general contractor
• Manufacturer
• Wholesaler
• Retailer
• Provider of passenger or freight transportation
• Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
• Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
• Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
• Provider of health care or social services
• Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
• Other sector

7. You have indicated that the current main activity of this business or organization is: Main activity. Are there any other activities that contribute significantly (at least 10%) to this business or organization's revenue?

• Yes, there are other activities
  Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's secondary activity:
  e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
• No, that is the only significant activity

8. Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?

When precise figures are not available, provide your best estimates.

Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?

	Percentage of revenue
Main activity
Secondary activity
All other activities
Total percentage

Potatoes grown for sale this year

1. Are you growing any potatoes for sale this year?

Please report all planting intentions, if you have not completed your planting activities when completing this survey.

• Yes
• No

Area planted 

2. What is the total area of potatoes planted in this crop year?

Please report for the entire operation. Report the area of potatoes planted on land owned or rented by all partners in the operation.

Please report all planting intentions, if you have not completed your planting activities when completing this survey.

Total area:

Unit of measure:

• Acres
• Hectares

Agricultural production

3. Which of the following agricultural products are currently being produced on this operation?

Select all that apply.

• Field crops
• Hay
• Summerfallow
• Potatoes
• Fruit, berries and nuts
• Vegetables
• Sod
• Nursery products
• Greenhouse products
• Cattle and calves
  Include beef or dairy.
• Pigs
• Sheep and lambs
• Mink
• Fox
• Hens and chickens
• Turkeys
• Maple taps
• Honey bees
• Mushrooms
• Other
  Specify agricultural products:
• Not producing agricultural products

Area in crops

4. What area of this operation is used for the following crops?

Report the areas only once, even if used for more than one crop type.

Exclude land used by others.

What area of this operation is used for the following crops?

	Area	Unit of measure
Field crops
Hay
Summerfallow
Potatoes
Fruit, berries and nuts
Vegetables
Sod
Nursery products
List of unit measures Acres Hectares Arpents

Greenhouse area

5. What is the total area under glass, plastic or other protection used for growing plants?

Total area:

Unit of measure:

• square feet
• square metres

Livestock (excluding birds)

6. How many of the following animals are on this operation?

Report all animals on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those that are boarded, custom-fed or fed under contract.

Include all animals kept by this operation, regardless of ownership, that are pastured on a community pasture, grazing co-op or public land.

Exclude animals owned but kept on a farm, ranch or feedlot operated by someone else.

How many of the following animals are on this operation?

	Number
Cattle and calves
Pigs
Sheep and lambs
Mink
Fox

Birds

7. How many of the following birds are on this operation?

Report all poultry on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those grown under contract.

Include poultry for sale and poultry for personal use.

Exclude poultry owned but kept on an operation operated by someone else.

Report all poultry on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those grown under contract

	Number
Hens and chickens
Turkeys

Maple taps

8. What was the total number of taps made on maple trees last spring?

Total number of taps:

Honey bees

9. How many live colonies of honey bees (used for honey production or pollination) are owned by this operation?

Include bees owned, regardless of location.

Number of colonies:

Mushrooms

10. What is the total mushroom growing area (standing footage) on this operation?

Include mushrooms grown using beds, trays, tunnels or logs.

Total area:

Unit of measure:

• square feet
• square metres

Changes or events

1. Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.

Select all that apply.

• Strike or lock-out
• Exchange rate impact
• Price changes in goods or services sold
• Contracting out
• Organizational change
• Price changes in labour or raw materials
• Natural disaster
• Recession
• Change in product line
• Sold business or business units
• Expansion
• New or lost contract
• Plant closures
• Acquisition of business or business units
• Other
  Specify the other changes or events:
• No changes or events

Contact person

1. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information. Is [Provided Given Names], [Provided Family Name] the best person to contact?

• Yes
• No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

• First name:
• Last name:
• Title:
• Email address:
• Telephone number (including area code):
• Extension number (if applicable):
  The maximum number of characters is 5.
• Fax number (including area code):

Feedback

1. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

• Hours:
• Minutes:

2. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2025 Biannual Livestock Survey. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

Your answers are confidential.

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.

Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Help Line: 1-800-565-1685

Table of contents

Skip to text

Reporting instructions
Definitions
Livestock: inclusions and exclusions
Cattle and calves
Pigs
Pigs - Farrowings
Sheep and lambs

Text begins

Reporting instructions

When answering the questions, please include as of the reference day:

• All livestock (cattle or calves, pigs, and/or sheep or lambs) on your operation regardless of ownership, including livestock custom fed, fed under contract for others, and livestock pastured.
• All livestock owned by the operator and held on Crown land, community pastures, and grazing projects.
• Please do not report livestock (cattle or calves, pigs, and/or sheep or lambs) which are owned by you but kept on a farm, ranch or feedlot operated by someone else.

Definitions

Legal Name
The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name
The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Current main activity of the business or organization
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational unit(s) targeted by this questionnaire only, and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

Livestock: inclusions and exclusions

Include all livestock on your operation as of the reference day, regardless of ownership, including livestock pastured, custom fed or fed under contract for others.

Include all livestock owned by the operator and held on Crown land, community pastures and grazing projects.

Exclude livestock which are owned by you but kept on a farm, ranch, or feedlot operated by someone else.

Community pastures, grazing associations, Crown land: a community pasture or grazing reserve can be a federal, provincial or municipal land operated by a manager and rented to livestock producers for pasturing animals at a fixed fee per head. A co-operative grazing association is a group of people who usually incorporate and rent or lease land for a common grazing area.

Note: forest reserves fall under the category of grazing reserve. Crown land is land owned by the government (municipal, provincial or federal) and generally managed by the government. Crown land does not necessarily have to be used for the purpose of grazing livestock, although grazing does take place on Crown land, particularly in British Columbia.

Fed under contract / custom feeding: livestock are fed under a pre-arranged agreement with a company (for example, feed mill) or another producer to feed the cattle or hogs to market weight. Usually the "feed" operator owns the buildings and supplies the labour but does not own the livestock.

Feedlot (cattle): feedlots are operations where livestock are fattened for market. A feedlot operation may own the animals, or may feed them for other operators for a fee, or both.
Note: feedlots are more applicable to cattle.

Feeding and finishing operations (pigs): feeding and finishing operations are applicable to pigs. Hog feeding and finishing operations are operations in which hogs are fed to market weight. Usually there are no breeding sows or boars in these operations other than those culled from a breeding herd, being fattened for slaughter.

Slaughtered for own consumption: if there are any livestock (cattle, hogs, or sheep) which will be slaughtered for personal consumption, include that livestock in inventory counts. For example, if a dairy operator has one pig which will be slaughtered for personal consumption, include this pig in inventory counts.

Cattle and calves

Bulls: male cattle which have not been castrated, 1 year and over, which are or will be kept for breeding purposes or for slaughter.

Steers: castrated male cattle, 1 year and over, being fed for slaughter.

Heifers: female cattle over 1 year old which have never calved, used (or to be used) for breeding or fed for slaughter.

Cow: female cattle which have calved at least once, being used for the production of dairy or for the reproduction of beef calves. Include "first calf heifers".

Calves: cattle of either sex, under 1 year old.

Calving: a term used when referring to cattle, meaning to give birth.

Pigs

Boars: non-castrated male pigs, 6 months and older, used or to be used (or sold) for breeding purposes.

Bred gilts: female pigs which have never farrowed but which have been bred; they are intended for breeding purposes.

Farrowing: term used when referring to pigs, meaning "to give birth".

Feeders: market pigs that are 50 to 119 lb (23 to 53 kg) or 120 to 179 lb (54 to 81 kg).
Note: sometimes referred to as grower pigs.

Finishers: market pigs over 179 lb (81 kg) which are being fed for slaughter.

Gilts: female pigs which have never farrowed and are intended for breeding. Gilts intended for breeding may or may not be bred.
Note: gilts are younger than bred gilts.

Hog: a general term used to describe any type of pig.

Market pigs: consists of 'feeders (growers)' and 'finishers' which are over 50 lb (23 kg). The general term 'market pigs' is to differentiate from pigs for breeding.

Piglet: a general term used to describe a new born pig.

Slaughter hogs: pigs which are approximately 220 to 240 lb (100 to 110 kg) and are ready to be sold or slaughtered.

Sows: female pigs which have farrowed at least once.

Stillborn: born dead.

Suckling pigs: young pigs under 15 lb (7 kg), which have not been weaned.

Weaners, Weanling, Nursery or Starter: pigs of either sex, 15 to 49 lb (7 to 22 kg), which have recently been weaned.

Weaning: switching a young animal from mother's milk to another source of food.

Pigs - Farrowings

Total number of farrowings: this question is asking to report the total number of farrowings in the last 6 months. If a sow farrowed two times in the last 6 months this would be reported as two farrowings.

Average number of piglets born per litter: this question is asking to report the average number of piglets born per litter during the last 6 months. Some respondents interpret this to mean how many total piglets were born during the last six months. The data we are looking for is the average number of piglets born per sow. For example: If a respondent has 100 sows and each sow has 10 piglets born per litter. The correct response would be on average 10 piglets born per litter. Include piglets born alive and stillborn.

Total piglets born: this question is asking to report the total number of piglets born in the last 6 months. Total number of farrowings in the last 6 months multiplied by average number of piglets born per litter equals the total piglets born in the last 6 months. If the respondent is not able to report the total number of farrowings or average number of piglets born, the respondent should report the total number of piglets born in the last 6 months. Include piglets born alive and stillborn.

Sheep and lambs

Rams: non-castrated male sheep kept for breeding.

Ewes: female sheep kept for breeding.

Replacement lambs: replacement lambs are lambs that are being kept for breeding purposes. Include lambs born on the operation and lambs purchased from other sources. Also include lambs born and still located on the operation that will eventually be sold to other farms for breeding purposes.

Market lambs: market lambs are male or female lambs that are raised with the intent for slaughter.

Thank you for your participation.