National statistics

Monthly UK statistics on cattle, sheep and pig slaughter and meat production – March 2023 (published 13 April 2023)

Updated 15 February 2024

1. Key messages.

• UK prime cattle (steers, heifers and young bulls) slaughterings in March 2023 were up 1.2% on March 2022 at 178,000 head. Beef and veal production was 80,000 tonnes, 0.7% higher than in February 2022.

• UK clean sheep slaughterings were up 21% on March 2022 at 1240,000 head. Mutton and lamb production was 28,000 tonnes, 15% higher than in March 2022.

• UK clean pig slaughterings were down 15% on March 2022 at 899,000 head. Pigmeat production was 83,000 tonnes, 18% lower than in March 2022.

2. Livestock slaughtered

2.1 Monthly numbers of home killed livestock slaughtered

Table 2.1 shows monthly estimates of the number of home killed cattle, sheep and pigs, slaughtered as meat for human consumption in UK abattoirs.

Table 2.1: United Kingdom monthly numbers of livestock slaughtered (Thousand head)

	Mar 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23	yr on yr
	31 days	31 days	28 days	31 days	% change
Steers	88	80	78	89	0.3%
Heifers	74	72	70	77	4.1%
Young Bulls	14	11	10	12	-8.3%
Cows and Adult Bulls	58	60	54	59	2.8%
Calves	9	6	6	11	20%
Clean Sheep	1025	949	970	1240	21%
Ewes and Rams	116	107	99	122	5.4%
Clean Pigs	1059	859	762	899	-15%
Sows and Boars	27	18	16	20	-27%

2.2 Average weekly number of home killed livestock slaughtered

Table 2.2 shows the average weekly slaughter figures for the last three months and the previous year’s current month for comparison. The monthly slaughter figures in section one are affected by the number of days in the survey period. To get a clearer measure of trends weekly averages are calculated using the number of livestock slaughtered and the number of days in each period. Longer term trends can be seen in Figures 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, following this table.

Table 2.2: United Kingdom average weekly numbers of livestock slaughtered (Thousand head)

	Mar 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23
Steers	20	18	20	20
Heifers	17	16	17	17
Young Bulls	3	3	2	3
Cows and Adult Bulls	13	14	14	13
Calves	2	1	1	3
Clean Sheep	231	214	243	280
Ewes and Rams	26	24	25	28
Clean Pigs	239	194	191	203
Sows and Boars	6	4	4	5

Figure 2:1 United Kingdom average weekly numbers of cattle slaughtered

Figure 2:2 United Kingdom average weekly numbers of sheep slaughtered

Figure 2:3 United Kingdom average weekly numbers of pigs slaughtered

2.3 Monthly numbers of home killed livestock slaughtered by country

Table 2.3 shows monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat in England and Wales, Scotland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Table 2.3: United Kingdom monthly numbers of livestock slaughtered by country (Thousand head)

England & Wales	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23
	31 days	28 days	31 days
Steers	49	49	58
Heifers	45	44	50
Young Bulls	7	6	9
Cows and Adult Bulls	42	39	43
Calves	6	5	11
Clean Sheep	828	854	1095
Ewes and Rams	102	95	118
Clean Pigs	683	603	721
Sows and Boars	17	15	18

Scotland	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23
	31 days	28 days	31 days
Steers	16	15	16
Heifers	14	13	13
Young Bulls	1	1	1
Cows and Adult Bulls	7	6	6
Calves	0	0	0
Clean Sheep	82	79	105
Ewes and Rams	2	2	2
Clean Pigs	18	14	19
Sows and Boars	2	2	2

Great Britain	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23
	31 days	28 days	31 days
Steers	65	64	74
Heifers	59	57	64
Young Bulls	8	7	10
Cows and Adult Bulls	49	45	50
Calves	6	5	11
Clean Sheep	911	934	1200
Ewes and Rams	104	97	120
Clean Pigs	701	617	740
Sows and Boars	18	16	20

Northern Ireland	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23
	31 days	28 days	31 days
Steers	15	14	15
Heifers	14	13	13
Young Bulls	3	3	3
Cows and Adult Bulls	11	10	9
Calves	1	1	0
Clean Sheep	39	37	40
Ewes and Rams	3	2	2
Clean Pigs	158	145	159
Sows and Boars	0	0	0

3. Average dressed carcase weights

3.1 Monthly average dressed carcase weights for cattle, sheep, and pigs

Table 3.1 shows the monthly average dressed carcase weight (DCW) of livestock slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

Table 3.1 United Kingdom average dressed carcase weights (Kilogrammes)

	Dec 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23
Steers	358.2	358.9	359.5	359.8
Heifers	324.6	325.8	324.8	323.8
Young Bulls	330.7	335.5	340.6	347.0
Cows and Adult Bulls	306.8	311.2	312.4	317.2
Calves	67.4	80.0	70.2	51.6
Clean Sheep	19.5	20.1	20.0	20.5
Ewes and Rams	23.7	23.9	26.4	25.0
Clean Pigs	87.3	88.8	88.9	89.0
Sows and Boars	142.9	144.7	147.3	146.9

The dressed carcase weight of calves varies significantly depending on the age of the calves.

4. Home killed meat production

4.1 Monthly volumes of home killed meat production

Table 4.1 shows the monthly volumes of meat produced in UK abattoirs.

Table 4.1: United Kingdom monthly volumes of meat production (Thousand tonnes)

	Mar 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Mar 23	yr on yr
	31 days	31 days	28 days	31 days	% change
Beef	80	75	71	80	0.7%
Mutton and Lamb	25	22	22	28	15%
Pigmeat	102	79	70	83	-18%

5. About these statistics

5.1 Survey response

This month our survey response was 78%.

5.2 Methodology

Defra runs a monthly survey of registered England and Wales slaughterhouses. It is a statutory survey (approximately 76) that collects information on livestock slaughter numbers and weight of meat produced. All major slaughterhouses participate in the survey and the response rate is typically 90%. Similar surveys are run by RESAS in Scotland and by DAERA in Northern Ireland. Scottish statistics on livestock slaughterings are available in [the Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture at the Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture webpage from Scottish government (Tables A5 and A6). This website also contains contact details and more information. Northern Ireland results are available at the Northern Ireland cattle sheep slaughterings webpage and Northern Ireland pig slaughterings webpage.

The England and Wales slaughter survey accounts for around 90% of the E&W slaughterhouse throughput for each livestock type. These data are supplemented by administrative data , provided by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for smaller slaughterhouses to give complete monthly coverage of livestock slaughterings.

Information on the weight of meat produced from a sample of animals weighed at slaughterhouses is obtained from survey respondents. From the information provided average dressed carcase weights for each animal type are primarily calculated by adding up the total weight of the meat produced and dividing by the number of animals weighed. Cold dressed carcase weights are recorded.

The volume of meat production is estimated from the number of all livestock slaughtered and average dressed carcase weight information collected. This total ‘Home killed’ production includes livestock imported into the United Kingdom for slaughter.

The data are subject to a variety of validation checks which identify inconsistencies in the data. All data are cleaned prior to publication in discussion with the survey respondents.

With effect from February 2016 the statistics published in this notice are based on calendar rather than statistical months. This change simplifies our survey processes and brings our slaughter survey in line with our milk surveys which are already run on a calendar month basis; it also removes the need for the 53 week year (which would have to be 2016). Since the end of weekly slaughter survey several years ago, there is no legislative requirement for weekly data, so since then we have derived the average weekly throughput from the monthly survey data.

The January 2016 data will include the last week of December 2015 and therefore be classed as a 5 week month. From 1st February 2016 onwards the statistics are based on calendar months.

We have carried out a review of the methodology for calculating the dressed carcase weights in order to align with UK specifications. Some slaughterhouses provide Cattle Dressed Carcase Weights (DCW) including Kidney Knob and Channel Fat (KKCF); some slaughterhouses provide pig weights at EC specification. From September 2019 cattle DCWs are calculated to UK specification which excludes KKCF; Pigs are dressed to UK specification.

To calculate the DCW of animals by category:

• If the slaughterhouse includes KKCF in the total weight, a deduction of 3.9% occurs. This aligns to the UK DCW specification.

• Link to beef carcase classification scheme webpage

• If pigs are dressed to EC specification then an increase of 1.6% to the DCW occurs to align with UK specification.
• Link to pig carcase grade scheme webpage

Some slaughterhouses specialise for niche markets. These slaughterhouses are treated separately so their DCW are not used to raise the data for those slaughterhouses who do not provide DCW data.

Data have been revised to January 2018 using the new methodology. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at livestock.statistics@defra.gov.uk

5.3 Revisions policy

Figures in this notice are provisional and subject to revision. We will provide information about any revisions we make to previously published information in this statistics notice and the associated datasets. Revisions could occur for various reasons, including:

• if we have not received survey data from respondents we make an estimate based on their previous returns. These estimates will be replaced with actual survey data when it is received.

• survey respondents occasionally supply amended figures for previous periods.

• if we have not received administrative data for the smaller slaughterhouses we make an estimate based on previous data received. These estimates will be replaced with actual data when it is received

5.4 Data users

The livestock industry is a major user of the data, including divisions of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). AHDB Pork (formally known as BPEX, representing the English pig industry) and AHDB Beef and Lamb (formerly EBLEX, representing the English beef and sheep industry). Industry users rely heavily on the numbers of slaughterings and meat production to assess the current state of the industry and predict the available supplies of meat for the coming year. This, in turn, can affect meat prices and trade decisions on levels of imports and exports to maintain supply. Users have always been very keen for the slaughtering statistics to be produced as quickly as possible so that the data is still relevant. For this reason, we collect and publish these statistics to a very tight timetable, publishing within three weeks of the survey date. The “Market Intelligence” and “Market Outlook” Reports on the AHDB Beef and Lamb website refer consistently to our statistics at the AHDB Beef and lamb webpage The AHDB Pork site provides more in-depth analysis of pigmeat production statistics at the AHDB pigmeat production webpage.

6. Definitions

• Steers (or Bullocks): Castrated males over 1 year old, raised for beef.

• Heifers: Female animals that have not calved. Over 1 year old, raised for beef.

• Young bulls: Non-castrated young males, raised for beef, generally slaughtered around 13 months old.

• Prime cattle: All those raised specifically for beef production. Total of Steers + Heifers + Young Bulls.

• Breeding bulls: Older cull males, previously used for breeding

• Cows: Older cull females, previously used for breeding

• Calves: All bovine animals aged 1 year old or younger. Prior to May 2014, the definition was “animals weighing less than 165kg”.

7. National Statistics status

National Statistics are produced to high professional standards. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

The continued designation of these statistics as National Statistics was confirmed in 2014 following a compliance check by the UK Statistics Authority (now the Office for Statistics Regulation) against the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Since the last review of these statistics in 2014, we have continued to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics, and have made improvements including: - Providing a detailed breakdown of livestock categories following user feedback - Improved the data quality by updating guidance for data providers and carrying out enhanced validation checks on data received

For general enquiries about National Statistics, contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service:

Tel: 0845 601 3034 Email: info@statistics.gov.uk.

You can find National Statistics on the internet at the UK government statistics webpage.

8. Future publications

This notice will be updated at 09:30 on Thursday 11th May 2023. Additional time series which include weekly slaughter averages, production and trade data can be found at the the UK government livestock statistics web page.

Enquiries to: Livestock statistics team, Tel: +44 (0) 208 026 6306

Email: julie.rumsey@defra.gov.uk

Defra, Rm 201,
Foss House,
Kings Pool,
1-2 Peasholme Green,
York,
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