The Canadian cattle herd continues to get smaller.

Canadian ranchers had 12.3 million cattle on their farms as of July 1st, down 1.3% from the same date last year.

Statistics Canada says the number of cattle in the country peaked back in 2005 and has been declining ever since.

The number of heifers held for breeding was down 4.8% on July 1st from a year earlier.Canadian cattle inventories are now 27% below their peak level recorded in 2005.