Livestock Survey

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1994

Reference period of change - January 1, 2018

Respondents are now contacted primarily by email or letter and given an access code for the electronic questionnaire for the survey, which can be responded to in either official language. Respondents also have the option of receiving a paper questionnaire, replying by telephone interview or using other electronic filing methods.

Reference period of change - July 1, 2017

Instrument design - Respondents are now contacted primarily by email or letter and given an access code for the electronic questionnaire for the survey, which can be responded to in either official language. Respondents also have the option of receiving a paper questionnaire, replying by telephone interview or using other electronic filing methods.

Error detection - Data processing activities, including data editing and imputation methods and the methods used to produce or estimate descriptive and analytical population parameters, and their associated precision indicators are now completed using IBSP systems.

Imputation - When total non-response (e.g. refusals and no contacts) occurs imputation is now used to fill in the missing information. Imputation generates a complete and coherent micro data file that covers all survey variables. Previously, total non-response was accounted for by weighting adjustments to each stratum.

Reference period of change - July 1, 2012

From July 2012 onwards, the hog survey frequency has been changed from quarterly to biannual. As a result of this change, there will be no hog surveys for the third and first quarters (reference dates: October 1 and April 1, respectively). Beginning January 2013, biannual hog surveys will be conducted for the reference dates January 1 and July 1. The last quarterly hog survey data (reference date: July 1, 2012) were released on August 21, 2012.

Sampling - From July 2012 onwards, the sample size for the July Livestock Survey has been reduced from about 16,000 operations to about 12,500.

Reference period of change - October 1, 2011 (hog inventories)

The 2011 Census of Agriculture took place on May 10, 2011. To reduce the response burden impact on hog producers, the quarterly October 1, 2011 hog survey was cancelled. All estimates in the catalogue 23-010 publication, Hog Statistics at October 1, 2011 are based on an analytical model that utilises administrative data. The regular quarterly hog survey program will resume for the January 1, 2012 reference date.

Reference period of change - April 1, 2006 (hog inventories)

Data sources - The 2006 Census of Agriculture will take place on May 16, 2006. To reduce the response burden impact on hog producers, the quarterly April 1, 2006 hogs survey was cancelled. All estimates in the catalogue 23-010 publication, Hogs Statistics at April 1, 2006 are based on an analytical, supply-demand, model that utilises marketing data. The regular quarterly hogs survey program will resume for the July 1, 2006 reference date.