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Beef Cattle Production in Canada - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Vaughan Immerwahr Vaughan Immerwahr New York, United States Last Updated: August 2025 NAICS 11211CA

Revenue

$25.6bn

2025

$25.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

89,428

Businesses

35,005

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Beef Cattle Production in Canada industry analysis

High prices have consistently elevated revenues for Canadian cattle producers over the current period, but also discouraged herd rebuilding and drained cattle supplies. Cattle prices have surged due to reduced herds in North America, influenced by persistent droughts impeding effective herd rebuilding. Although producers are generally inclined to rebuild, the volatility of high prices, along with the unpredictability of future drought impacts, has discouraged extensive retention practices. Profit has also been pressured by elevated input costs, particularly feed, but extreme cattle prices have allowed profit to recover and expand since its low in 2022. Compounding these challenges is the difficulty in passing increased costs onto consumers, who have shown a growing propensity to switch to alternative proteins. This, combined with the inherent volatility in agricultural outputs due to extreme weather events, continues to strain the financial health of producers despite elevated cattle prices. Overall, revenue has climbed at a CAGR of 4.4% since 2020, including an increase of 2.0% to reach an estimated $25.6 billion in 2025 as beef prices remain on the rise.

Trends and Insights

  • High prices from a shrinking herd count have driven revenue up in the current period. Demand for red meat has stayed strong thanks to a solid macroeconomic environment, despite many consumers' negative perceptions around the healthfulness and sustainability of red meat.
  • Most beef cattle are sold to processors for finishing and slaughter. This market segment represents more than half of beef cattle farmers' revenue, and high beef prices have created strong demand.
  • Alberta leads Canadian cattle production with ideal grazing conditions. Its robust infrastructure and proximity to US markets strengthen its role in the industry despite challenges like droughts.
  • Market share concentration is very low for Canadian beef cattle farmers. The wide spread of family-owned, single-operator farms makes it difficult to secure a significant market share.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $25.6bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Cattle prices rise due to tight supplies and herd reductions

  • Cattle prices have risen sharply due to tight supplies caused by droughts in Western Canada and the US. As noted in Farm Credit Canada's January 2025 report, the Canadian cattle herd has reached its lowest level in 30 years, with producers facing challenges rebuilding herds due to limited feed availability and financial constraints. Similarly, the US cattle herd is at its smallest since 1961, with slaughter steer prices projected to average $229/cwt in 2025 according to the USDA's July 2025 livestock outlook. These supply constraints have driven up live cattle prices, benefiting cow-calf producers.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Beef Cattle Production in Canada
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Rising red meat prices will reshape domestic and global demand

  • Red meat prices are projected to increase globally, with Canadian cattle prices remaining strong in the short term before starting to decline mildly between 2029 and 2030 as rebuilding efforts pick up steam.

Biggest companies in the Beef Cattle Production in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Beef Cattle Production in Canada industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Beef Cattle Production in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Heifers, Steers and Calves. Heifers is the largest segment of the Beef Cattle Production in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Elevated prices support strong revenues from beef cattle sales

  • Beef cows form the backbone of the cattle industry. Producers in this segment are looking to begin maintaining and expanding their herds after recent years of drought-induced liquidation. The USDA's April 2025 semi-annual livestock report notes that beginning-year Canadian beef cow inventories dropped by 3.2% in 2024, following increased cow slaughter in 2023, and estimates an additional 1.2% decline in beginning stocks for 2025. Despite this reduction, the USDA forecasts that improved feed pricing and availability will support herd stabilization by the end of 2025, increasing demand for quality beef cows.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Beef Cattle Production industry encompasses establishments focused on raising and fattening cattle, including those involved in feeding operations such as feedlots. It also includes the raising of cattle intended for dairy herd replacements. While beef farming and dairy heifer replacement production are key activities, this industry excludes activities related to milking dairy cattle, which are categorized under dairy cattle and milk production.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada include Raising and fattening heifers, Raising and fattening steers, Raising and fattening calves, Raising and fattening bulls, Raising and managing beef cows and Generating revenue from other sources related to cattle production.

Companies

Companies covered in the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada include stocker cattle, feeder cattle, backgrounding, marbling, finishing, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, bull, cow, heifer and steer.

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 112110 - Beef Cattle Production in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

High prices from a shrinking herd count have driven revenue up in the current period. Demand for red meat has stayed strong thanks to a solid macroeconomic environment, despi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Most beef cattle are sold to processors for finishing and slaughter. This market segment represents more than half of beef cattle farmers' revenue, and high beef prices have ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Alberta leads Canadian cattle production with ideal grazing conditions. Its robust infrastructure and proximity to US markets strengthen its role in the industry despite chal...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Market share concentration is very low for Canadian beef cattle farmers. The wide spread of family-owned, single-operator farms makes it difficult to secure a significant mar...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Beef Cattle Production in Canada industry.

Analyst insights

No Canadian beef cattle farm has a significant market share. More than 90.0% of farms are sole proprietors without employees and with strong regional connections.

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Capital intensity is high for Canadian beef cattle farmers. Most farms have few employees, and owners must purchase expensive agricultural equipment and breeding cattle to se...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit recovery in recent years has been driven by strong cattle prices offsetting high input costs. Industry revenue growth has outpaced the strong purchase and wage expense...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Assets (2018-2023)
  • Liabilities (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada in 2025?

The market size of the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada is $25.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada in 2025?

There are 35,005 businesses in the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada?

The Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada?

The Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.

Has the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What does the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada include?

Raising and fattening heifers and Raising and fattening steers are part of the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada.

How competitive is the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Beef Cattle Production industry in Canada.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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