National statistics

Monthly UK statistics on cattle, sheep and pig slaughter and meat production – July 2023 (published 10 August 2023)

Updated 15 February 2024

Following a quality assurance exercise, from April 2023 livestock numbers will be obtained from Food Standards Agency (FSA) administrative data. Data from Defra’s slaughterhouse survey will be used to collect weights of meat produced and to apportion FSA data into livestock categories.

1. Key messages.

• UK prime cattle (steers, heifers and young bulls) slaughterings in July 2023 were down 1.9% on July 2022 at 166,000 head. Beef and veal production was 73,000 tonnes, 3.0% lower than in July 2022.

• UK clean sheep slaughterings were down 11% on July 2022 at 923,000 head. Mutton and lamb production was 21,000 tonnes, 13% lower than in July 2022.

• UK clean pig slaughterings were down 15% on July 2022 at 793,000 head. Pigmeat production was 72,000 tonnes, 15% lower than in July 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)

	Jul 22	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23	yr on yr
	31 days	31 days	30 days	31 days	% change
Steers	83	88	86	81	-2.5%
Heifers	63	69	65	63	-0.8%
Young Bulls	23	20	22	23	-3.0%
Cows and Adult Bulls	51	49	50	48	-4.4%
Calves	7	7	7	6	-11%
Clean Sheep	1032	919	1063	922	-11%
Ewes and Rams	156	124	143	119	-23%
Clean Pigs	930	869	815	793	-15%
Sows and Boars	22	21	19	18	-16%

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)

	Jul 22	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23
Steers	19	20	20	18
Heifers	14	15	15	14
Young Bulls	5	5	5	5
Cows and Adult Bulls	11	11	12	11
Calves	2	1	2	1
Clean Sheep	233	208	248	208
Ewes and Rams	35	28	33	27
Clean Pigs	210	196	190	179
Sows and Boars	5	5	4	4

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	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23
	31 days	30 days	31 days
Steers	59	59	54
Heifers	44	44	40
Young Bulls	14	14	13
Cows and Adult Bulls	35	35	32
Calves	6	6	6
Clean Sheep	825	959	811
Ewes and Rams	121	140	116
Clean Pigs	696	644	624
Sows and Boars	19	18	17

Scotland	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23
	31 days	30 days	31 days
Steers	15	14	15
Heifers	11	10	12
Young Bulls	3	4	5
Cows and Adult Bulls	5	5	6
Calves	0	0	0
Clean Sheep	60	68	71
Ewes and Rams	2	2	1
Clean Pigs	19	19	19
Sows and Boars	2	1	1

Great Britain	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23
	31 days	30 days	31 days
Steers	74	72	69
Heifers	55	54	52
Young Bulls	17	18	18
Cows and Adult Bulls	40	40	38
Calves	6	6	6
Clean Sheep	886	1027	881
Ewes and Rams	123	142	118
Clean Pigs	715	663	643
Sows and Boars	21	19	18

Northern Ireland	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23
	31 days	30 days	31 days
Steers	15	14	12
Heifers	13	11	10
Young Bulls	3	5	5
Cows and Adult Bulls	9	9	10
Calves	0	0	0
Clean Sheep	34	36	40
Ewes and Rams	2	2	2
Clean Pigs	154	152	149
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)

	Apr 23	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23
Steers	358.7	359.9	354.8	356.0
Heifers	325.2	323.4	322.2	321.8
Young Bulls	348.3	354.5	358.1	358.2
Cows and Adult Bulls	315.6	314.3	315.2	312.3
Calves	83.4	89.5	100.5	96.0
Clean Sheep	19.5	20.5	19.6	19.6
Ewes and Rams	27.1	28.2	28.4	28.4
Clean Pigs	89.4	88.7	88.2	88.1
Sows and Boars	142.0	142.2	145.1	143.5

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)

	Jul 22	May 23	Jun 23	Jul 23	yr on yr
	31 days	31 days	30 days	31 days	% change
Beef	75	77	76	73	-3.0%
Mutton and Lamb	25	22	25	21	-13%
Pigmeat	85	80	75	72	-15%

5. About these statistics

5.1 Methodology

Following a quality assurance exercise, livestock numbers from April 2023 will be obtained from Food Standards Agency (FSA) administrative data. The FSA data provides complete monthly coverage of slaughterhouse throughput in England and Wales.

Defra runs monthly slaughterhouse surveys that collects information on livestock slaughter numbers and weight of meat produced by category. These data are used to apportion FSA data into livestock categories and for quality assurance purposes. The survey goes to all major slaughterhouses and survey response is typically around 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.

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.

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

5.2 Revisions

5.2.1 Revision – April 2023

From April 2023 we have revised our livestock numbers across all categories from January 2021 to March 2023. The updated figures have been included in the accompanying dataset.

This revision is due to an issue identified in our previous methodology for calculating slaughter numbers. Due to the method of processing the monthly figures, subsequent updates to the slaughter numbers from the Food Standards Agency were not captured and there was underestimation of slaughter numbers in some categories. We have revised the data from January 2021 to March 2023 to capture these updated figures. Further we have revised our livestock categories ratios based on previous year’s survey data for data accuracy purposes.

Due to the change in methodology comparisons with previous years will not be possible.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at livestock.statistics@defra.gov.uk

5.2.2 Revision 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.

• FSA administrative data can be revised up to two months after production. We will include any revised data in the subsequent publication releases.

5.3 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 14th September 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

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