Statistics Canada has released its July 1st livestock inventory estimates for cattle, hogs and sheep.

There were 13.5 million cattle and calves on Canadian farms---down 0.1 per cent from one year ago. However, the rate of decline is slowing down. It was 1.2 per cent between July 2010 and July 2011.

The total number of cattle in Saskatchewan is pegged at just over 2.9 million head, an increase of 0.3 per cent.

The most encouraging number is a 3.5 per cent increase in beef replacement heifers on a national basis.

"We need more cattle in Canada to keep our infrastructure in place," said Martin Unrau, President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association. "It is very positive to see an increase in heifer replacements. When we can move forward in a positive manner to get our herd a little younger, it is good news for the future."

1.6 million head of cattle and calves went to slaughter during the first six months of the year. That's a 2.2 per cent decline from one year ago, and 13.6 per cent below the level for the same period in 2010.

398,900 head of live cattle and calves were exported during the first half of 2012. That's up 6.6 per cent from last year, but 36 per cent below the first six months of 2010.

Canadian hog inventories continued to rebound after several years of downsizing. The total was 12.9 million head---up 1.5 per cent. Saskatchewan hog numbers are up 5.8 per cent from one year ago to 1.1 million head.

There were 1.1 million head of sheep on Canadian farms as of July 1st, up 0.6 per cent from one year ago. Saskatchewan recorded the second largest increase at 3.3 per cent for a total of 127,000.