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- Beef Battle Royale: Alberta vs Ontario – Who’s Really the Boss of Canada’s Meat Scene?
Beef Battle Royale: Alberta vs Ontario – Who’s Really the Boss of Canada’s Meat Scene?
Spoiler alert – It’s not the place with more Tim Hortons.
Javier Clarkson
July 29, 2025
In partnership with
Alright folks, prepare your taste buds and tighten those belt buckles. The ultimate showdown in Canada’s meat industry pits Alberta, the heavyweight beef champ, against Ontario, the versatile agricultural city slicker. Let me walk you through the turf war in charts and chuckles, cowboy style. But first let’s hear from our sponsor of today:
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The Big Picture: Herd Size & Beef Production
Province | Cattle Herd Size (% of Canadian total) | Share of National Beef Processing | Number of Beef Farms | Avg. Cattle per Farm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta | ~40-43% | Over 70% | 20,310 | 173 |
Ontario | Smaller (~16-20%) | About 20% | 11,970 | Less than Alberta’s |
Explanation:
Alberta is Canada’s cattle kingpin, boasting about 40-43% of the nation’s herd, and processing around 70% of the beef slaughtered nationwide. Its farms are beefier too, with an average of 173 cattle per farm compared to smaller averages in Ontario. Ontario trails with a smaller herd and beef-focused farms but compensates as a major processor and distributor, not so much a beef-producing powerhouse.
The Money Trail: Economic Impact & Employment
Metric | Alberta | Ontario |
|---|---|---|
Annual Beef Industry Sales | ~$5.2 - $5.7 billion | Significant but smaller |
Total Economic Activity | Around $18 billion | Substantial, less beef focused |
Jobs in Beef Processing | ~10,000 direct jobs | Important but smaller |
Industry Structure | Vertically integrated (ranch to processing) | More diversified agriculture |
Explanation:
Alberta’s beef industry is a fat wallet, generating about $5.7 billion at the packing level and $18 billion in total economic activity while employing around 10,000 people directly in processing alone. Ontario’s beef sector is no slouch but spreads its eggs across varied agricultural ventures—beef processing is important but never takes center stage like in Alberta.
How the Herds Break Down: Farm Size Distribution
Farm Size (Number of Cows) | % of Farms in Ontario | % of Farms in Alberta | % of Beef Cows Represented (Canada-wide) |
|---|---|---|---|
< 47 cows (small farms) | 61% | Less prominent | About 16% |
47 – 122 cows (medium farms) | 23% | Increasingly larger | 26% |
123 – 499 cows (large farms) | 15% | Higher proportion | 45% |
> 500 cows (very large farms) | 1% | Significant presence | 13% |
Explanation:
Ontario’s beef farms are dominated by small to medium operations, with 61% having fewer than 47 cows. Alberta features more large-scale producers with bigger herds, consolidating a substantial share of beef cattle for high output. In short: Alberta means fewer but bigger ranches—which adds up to high production muscle.
The Feedlot Factor: Where the Action Happens
Alberta’s “feedlot alley” south of Calgary is the cattle equivalent of a luxury condo complex—packed with giant feedlots where cows bulk up faster than your neighbour at a backyard barbecue. This area alone handles a huge chunk of Canada’s feedlot capacity and beef finishing operations. Ontario, while significant in processing, is lighter on feedlots and heavy-scale finishing.
And Now, The Verdict...
If beef were a sport, Alberta would be the league champion. The sheer volume of cattle and beef processing puts Alberta leagues ahead, with a vertically integrated system from ranch to retail beef.
Ontario plays the savvy manager role, focusing on processing, distribution, and juggling a more diversified agricultural portfolio. They keep the steaks rolling into urban grills, but Alberta supplies the bulk of the meat muscle.
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