This is 109,000 fewer head (a 40 per cent decrease), compared to the same time frame in 2015. In 2015, we imported a total of almost 290,000 head of feeder cattle from Canada.

For the last few weeks of 2016, imports are expected to be above a year ago, still the yearly total will be down dramatically year-over-year.

The Livestock Marketing Information Center forecasts imports to increase in 2017, largely due to the closure of the largest cattle feeding operation in Canada this year because of persistently poor returns.

The US also imports slaughter cattle from Canada (although these animals are not included in the marketing number on our monthly Cattle on Feed report as they did not go through a US feed yard). So far in 2016, we have imported just over 265,000 head of slaughter steers and heifers, up almost 50 per cent from a year ago level.

In 2015, the US imported over 215,000 slaughter steers and heifers from Canada. LMIC is expecting similar imports in 2017.

Moving on to live hog imports from Canada, the US buys both feeder pigs and slaughter barrows and gilts. On the feeder pig side, year-to-date, we have brought in 3.8 million animals. This is up from 3.6 million last year (comparing the same time frame).

On an annual basis, in 2015 the US imported almost 4.3 million feeder pigs from Canada. Slaughter barrow and gilt imports from Canada are significantly smaller than feeder pigs.

Year-to-date we have imported 374,000 head, compared to 379,000 head in the same time frame last year. In 2015, almost 443,000 slaughter barrows and gilts were imported from Canada. Year-over-year, changes in hog and pig imports during 2017 may be similar to what occurred this year.