National statistics

Chapter 8: Livestock

Updated 21 October 2022

Summary

Key results for 2021 compared to 2020

• The value of beef and veal increased by 10% to £3.3bn. Home-fed production decreased by 4.6% to 891 thousand tonnes.
• The value of pig meat decreased by 2.6% to £1.4bn. Home-fed production increased by 4.0% to 982 thousand tonnes.
• The value of mutton and lamb production increased by 12% to £1.5bn. Home-fed production decreased by 9.5% to 277 thousand tonnes.
• The value of poultry meat increased by 2.5% to £2.9bn. Home-fed production remained at 2.0 million tonnes.
• The value of milk and milk products increased by 7.8% to £4.8bn, mainly due to rising prices.
• The value of eggs for human consumption increased by 11% to £818m. Production increased by 4.1% to 1.0 billion dozens.

Meat production

Total meat production in 2021 decreased by 0.8% to 4.1 million tonnes. This was the first year on year decrease since 2012 and production remained 17% higher than a decade earlier. Cattle and sheep meat production decreased (by 4.6% and 9.5% respectively). This was balanced out by a 4.0% increased in pig meat production, whilst poultry meat production remained unchanged. Poultry continues to make up 48% of home-fed meat production.

The total value of meat increased by 5.9% to £9.1bn. The only area with a decrease in value is home-fed pig production. The value decreased by 2.6% and was caused by falling prices. In contrast, the value of cattle and sheep production has continued to increase significantly in 2021 (by 10% and 12% respectively). These increases follow on from around an 8% increase in value in 2020, despite decreasing production.

Table 8.1a to 8.1b - Meat production

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375,
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.1a

Home-fed production (‘000 tonnes)	2019	2020	2021
Cattle	917	935	891
Pigs	919	944	982
Sheep	318	306	277
Poultry	1,931	1,993	1,995
Total production	4,085	4,178	4,146

Table 8.1b

Value of production (£ million)	2019	2020	2021
Cattle	2,729	2,955	3,265
Pigs	1,344	1,481	1,442
Sheep	1,253	1,363	1,529
Poultry	2,679	2,829	2,901
Total value	8,005	8,628	9,137

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Cattle and calves: beef and veal

The value of beef and veal production increased by 10% to £3.3bn in 2021, following on from an increase of 8.3% in 2020. In 2021 this increase in value was driven by increasing prices, including a 13% increase in the price of finished prime cattle. There were however increased input costs for farmers as the average price of cattle and calf feed in the final quarter of 2021 increased 15% compared to 2020 (see Animal feed prices).

Home-fed cattle production decreased by 4.6% to 891 thousand tonnes. Whilst 2020 had the highest production since 1995, production volume in 2021 was the lowest since 2015. There was reduced demand at the start of the year with trade uncertainty as the UK left the EU. Beef and veal exports to the EU decreased by 48% in the first quarter of the year before returning to more usual levels (see cattle, sheep and slaughter statistics.

Table 8.2a to 8.2c - Cattle and calves; beef and veal

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375,
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.2a

Population (thousand head at June)	2019	2020	2021
Total cattle and calves	9,739	9,615	9,603
Dairy cows	1,871	1,850	1,850
Beef cows	1,527	1,509	1,485

Table 8.2b

Production	2019	2020	2021
Total home-fed marketings (thousand head)	2,855	2,854	2,700
Steers, heifers and young bulls	2,007	2,047	1,951
Calves	156	106	86
Cows and adult bulls	691	700	663
Average dressed carcase weight (kg):
Steers, heifers and young bulls	346	346	346
Calves	61	76	98
Cows and adult bulls	309	312	314
Production (dressed carcase weight):
Home-fed production	917	935	891
Value of production (£ million)	2,729	2,955	3,265
Value of home-fed production	2,799	3,013	3,228
Change in work-in-progress	-64	-57	39
Less imported livestock	6	1	2
Plus breeding animals exported	-	-	-
Subsidies	40	40	40
Value of production at basic price (£ million)	2,769	2,995	3,305
Price (pence per kg deadweight)
Finished cattle: All prime cattle	334	353	398

Table 8.2c

Supply and use (‘000 tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2019	2020	2021
Home-fed production	917	935	891
Imports from EU	303	301	310
Imports from the rest of the world	14	6	11
Exports to EU	140	113	98
Exports to the rest of the world	27	35	34
Total new supply	1,067	1,094	1,081
Home-fed production as % of new supply for use in the UK	86%	85%	82%

Notes for tables 8.2a to 8.2c:

1. Measures of home-fed marketings, dressed carcase weights, production and value. include animals raised and slaughtered in the UK, excluding any animals removed from the food chain.
2. Change in work-in-progress is a valuation of the change in work-in-progress of animals to be slaughtered.
3. Subsidies refer to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme.
4. Value of production at basic price includes subsidies and taxes.
5. Dressed carcase weight does not include meat offals or trade in preserved or manufactured meat products. Boneless meat has been converted to bone-in weights to enable calculation of home fed production as % of total new supply. Volumes may be different to those in Chapter 13 -Trade.
6. EU trade includes meat from live finished animals both in the EU and the rest of the world.
7. – means ‘nil’ or ‘negligible’.

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Pigs and pig meat

Home-fed pig meat production in 2021 reached the highest level since 1999 at 982 thousand tonnes, increasing by 4.0% from 2020. Despite this the value of home-fed pig meat production fell by 2.6% due to lower prices. The average clean pig deadweight price reduced by 7.8% (12.5 pence per kg) to £1.48 per kg, following an increase of 12.4 pence per kg in 2020. Despite this reduction in pig price the cost of compound pig feed increased by 12% over the year (see Animal feed prices).

The pig industry continued to be affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021. Producers had anticipated a greater demand for pig meat, including exports to China, and increased their herds accordingly but instead there was an excess across Europe. Despite expectations there were reduced export opportunities to China as their domestic herd recovered following African Swine Fever outbreaks.

As coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions lifted at the start of the year, some foreign butchers returned home. There were also concerns about accessing seasonal labour at the end of the year. In addition, CO2 shortages in September threatened pig slaughter capacity. Despite these challenges, slaughter throughput remained above the 5-year average for most of the year and increased overall by 1.9%. This was insufficient to process the increased quantity of pigs on farms and resulted in a backlog towards the end of the year. This was estimated at approximately 200,000 at the end of year. This was a difficult time for pig farmers, with some animals culled on farm and many more were slaughtered at a higher weight than usual. UK governments brought in a range of schemes to aid pig producers and processors including temporary visas for butchers, payments to cover overweight price penalties and private storage aid.

Table 8.3a to 8.3c - Pigs and pigmeat

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.3a

Population	2019	2020	2021
Total pigs (thousand head at June)	5,078	5,055	5,323
Sows in pig and other sows for breeding	356	345	345
Gilts in pig	57	57	54

Table 8.3b

Production	2019	2020	2021
Total home-fed marketings (thousand head)	10,645	10,693	10,918
Clean pigs	10,385	10,436	10,659
Sows and boars	260	257	258
Average dressed carcase weight (kg):
Clean pigs	85	87	89
Sows and boars	146	144	146
Production (dressed carcase weight):
Home-fed production	919	944	982
Value of production (£ million)	1,344	1,481	1,442
Value of home-fed production	1,340	1,474	1,420
Change in work in progress	4	4	21
Less imported livestock	. .	. .	. .
Plus breeding animals exported	1	3	2
Price (pence per kg deadweight)
Clean pigs	149	161	148

Table 8.3c

Supply and use (‘000 tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent	2019	2020	2021
Home-fed production	919	944	982
Imports from EU	756	665	623
Imports from rest of the world	1	1	1
Exports to EU	158	138	85
Exports to rest of the world	118	147	126
Total new supply	1,401	1,325	1,395
Home-fed production as % of new supply for use in the UK	66%	71%	70%

Notes for tables 8.3a to 8.3c:

1. Measures of home-fed marketings, dressed carcase weights, production and value include animals raised and slaughtered in the UK, excluding any animals removed from the food chain.
2. A valuation has been made of the change in work-in-progress of animals to be slaughtered.
3. Dressed carcase weights do not include meat offals or trade in preserved or manufactured meat products. Boneless meat has been converted to bone-in weights to enable calculation of home fed production as % of total new supply. Volumes may be different to those in Chapter 13 - Trade.
4. EU trade includes meat from live finished animals both in the EU and the rest of the world.
5. . . indicates that no data is available.

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Sheep and lambs: mutton and lamb

The value of home-fed sheep meat production increased by 12% to £1.5bn despite a 9.5% decrease in production. Concerns about trade after the UK left the EU contributed to lower meat production in 2021 as a greater number of lambs had been slaughtered for export in December 2020.

Production value increased because of large price rises as the average finished sheep price in Great Britain increased by 21% to £5.76 per kg. Sheep are less reliant on feed than other areas of meat production, so the industry has been less affected by the 17% increase in compound sheep feed prices during 2021 (see Animal feed prices). On 1 December there were 669,000 (3.0%) more sheep on farms compared to 2020 suggesting an increased breeding flock as farmers look to capitalise on high prices (see Livestock numbers in England and the UK).

In 2021, there were significant reductions in both imports and exports (17% and 20% respectively) of lamb and mutton. Lamb imports have traditionally been dominated by New Zealand but high shipping costs and increased demand in Asia reduced this in 2021. Most mutton and lamb exports are to the EU and this was heavily reduced at the start of the year as the UK left the EU. By September, EU exports had returned to a more normal level.

Table 8.4a to 8.4c Sheep and lambs; mutton and lamb

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375,
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.4a

Population	2019	2020	2021
Total sheep and lambs (thousand head at June)	33,580	32,697	32,957
Breeding flock 1 year and over	16,035	15,370	15,624
Lambs under one year old	16,672	16,486	16,403

Table 8.4b

Production	2019	2020	2021
Total home-fed marketings (thousand head)	15,343	14,985	13,409
Clean sheep and lambs	13,578	13,482	12,186
Ewes and rams	1,765	1,502	1,223
Average dressed carcase weight (kg):
Clean sheep and lambs	20	20	20
Ewes and rams	27	27	27
Production (dressed carcase weight):
Home-fed production	318	306	277
Value of production (£ million)	1,253	1,363	1,529
Value of home-fed production	1,247	1,373	1,517
Change in work in progress	6	-10	12
Less imported livestock	-	-	-
Plus breeding animals exported	-	-	-
Subsidies	7	7	7
Value of production at basic prices (£ million)	1,260	1,370	1,536
Price
Finished sheep (Great Britain pence per kg dressed carcase weight)	416	475	576

Table 8.4c

Supply and use (dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2019	2020	2021
Home-fed production	318	306	277
Imports from the EU	21	14	7
Imports from the rest of the world	59	58	52
Exports to the EU	101	92	75
Exports to the rest of the world	6	9	6
Total new supply	290	276	255
Home-fed production as % of new supply for use in the UK	109%	111%	109%

Notes for tables 8.4a to 8.4c:

1. Measures of home-fed marketings, dressed carcase weights, production and value include animals raised and slaughtered in the UK, excluding any animals removed from the food chain.
2. A valuation of the change in work-in-progress of animals to be slaughtered.
3. Subsidies refer to Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme.
4. Including subsidies and taxes.
5. Price is unweighted average of weekly prices at representative markets.
6. Supply and use figures do not include meat offals or trade in preserved or manufactured meat products. Boneless meat has been converted to bone-in weights to enable calculation of home fed production as % of total new supply. Volumes may be different to those in Chapter 13 – Trade.
7. EU trade includes meat from live finished animals both in the EU and the rest of the world.
8. ’ - ‘ means ‘nil’ or ‘negligible’.

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Poultry and poultry meat

The overall value of home-fed poultry meat production increased by 2.5% in 2021 to £2.9bn. This was primarily driven by a 6.0% increase in the value of table chickens. Whilst the value of the industry did increase, compound poultry feed also increased in price by 14% during 2021 (see Animal feed prices).

Home-fed poultry meat production increased by less than 1% to 2.0bn tonnes whilst the proportion of poultry meat from table chickens increased from 86% to 89%. This was due to a 3.6% increase in table chicken meat production to 1.8bn tonnes. By contrast, there were reductions in the home-fed production of boiling fowls (16%), turkeys (26%) and ducks and geese (5.8%).

There was caution in the turkey industry going into 2021 after the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions at the end of 2020 led to a much lower demand for turkey meat than usual. The industry is also reliant on temporary workers in the lead up to Christmas and as the UK left the EU there were worries about accessing sufficient labour. This resulted in 15% fewer turkey poults being placed during the usual peak period of July to September, compared to the 5 year average. Overall, the number of turkeys slaughtered in 2021 reduced by 26% to 12 million (see Poultry statistics).

From 29 November 2021, a UK-wide housing order was introduced to protect poultry against avian influenza. Outbreaks of this disease led to some culls of birds towards the end of the year but there was no noticeable impact on the number of birds being slaughtered.

Table 8.5a to 8.5c - Poultry and poultrymeat

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.5a

Population	2019	2020	2021
Number (thousand head at June):	187,072	181,957	190,019
Table chickens	121,590	118,388	126,693
Laying and breeding fowl	54,732	53,544	52,839
Turkeys, ducks, geese and all other poultry	10,750	10,025	10,487

Table 8.5b

Production	2019	2020	2021
Slaughterings (millions):	1,138	1,182	1,183
Table chickens	1,050	1,097	1,116
Boiling fowls (culled hens)	59	58	45
Turkeys	16	16	12
Ducks & geese	14	11	10
Production (carcase weight):	1,931	1,993	1,995
Chickens and other table fowls	1,642	1,711	1,772
Boiling fowls (culled hens)	84	84	70
Turkeys	175	174	129
Ducks & geese	30	25	23
Value of production (£ million):	2,679	2,829	2,901
Table chickens	2,090	2,256	2,392
Boiling fowls (culled hens)	8	8	7
Turkeys, ducks, geese	425	379	296
Change in work in progress in fowls	-11	-11	19
Exports of live poultry	142	161	162
Hatching eggs for export	88	92	75
Less live poultry imported	41	18	26
Less hatching eggs imported	20	38	22

Table 8.5c

Supply and use (‘000 tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2019	2020	2021
Production	1,931	1,993	1,995
Imports from the EU	469	420	380
Imports to the rest of the world	25	14	23
Exports to the EU	256	313	237
Exports to the rest of the world	109	97	97
Total new supply	2,060	2,017	2,064
Production as % of new supply for use in the UK	94%	99%	97%

Notes for tables 8.5a to 8.5c:

1. Laying and breeding fowl are hens and pullets kept mainly for producing eggs for eating.
2. Carcase weight figures do not include meat offals or trade in preserved or manufactured meat products. Boneless meat has been converted to bone-in weights to enable calculation of home fed production as % of total new supply. Volumes may be different to those in Chapter 13 – Trade.
3. A valuation has been made of the change in work-in-progress of fowls to be slaughtered.
4. Prices are average producer prices.
5. . . means ‘not available’ or ‘not applicable’.

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Milk

Milk production for human consumption decreased by less than 1% to 15.1 billion litres, the first year-on-year decrease since 2016. The dairy herd fell by less than 1% to 1,853 thousand head and the average yield per cow increased by 5 litres to 8,213 per annum.

The average milk price across the 2021 calendar year (excluding bonus payments) increased by 2.5 pence per litre (ppl) to 31.1ppl, an increase of 8.7%. Most of this change came towards the end of the year and December 2021 had an average price of 35.5ppl, up 14% (4.1ppl) on December 2020. Price increases reflected the rising input costs for farmers including for fertiliser, feed and energy. The price rises meant that the total value of production increased by 7.8% to the highest value on record of £4.8bn (see milk prices).

Table 8.6a to 8.6c - Milk

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375,
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.6a

Population and yield	2019	2020	2021
Dairy herd (annual average, thousand head)	1,871	1,856	1,853
Average yield per dairy cow (litres per annum)	8,132	8,208	8,213

Table 8.6b

Production (million litres)	2019	2020	2021
Milk from the dairy herd	15,215	15,229	15,221
Milk from the beef herd	-	-	-
Raw milk leaving farm	14,985	15,002	14,990
Milk processed on farm	90	87	90
On farm use	140	140	140
Volume for human consumption	15,075	15,089	15,081
Value of production (£ million)	4,452	4,426	4,770
Raw milk leaving farm	4,362	4,337	4,676
Processed milk products from farm	50	49	51
On farm use	41	40	44
Subsidies	. .	. .	. .
Less levies	. .	. .	. .
Value of production at market prices (£ million)	4,452	4,426	4,770
Prices (average milk producer prices, net of delivery charges (pence per litre))
Farmgate price excluding bonus payments	29	29	31
Farmgate price including bonus payments	29	29	31

Table 8.6c

Supply and use (million litres)	2019	2020	2021
Production (excludes on farm use from 2015)	15,075	15,089	15,081
Imports	118	116	116
Exports	906	872	872
Total new supply	14,287	14,333	14,325
For liquid consumption	6,280	6,228	6,141
for manufacture	7,754	7,813	7,911
Butter	397	408	433
Cheese	4,457	4,641	4,764
Cream	315	327	322
Yoghurt	470	528	463
Condensed milk	354	351	343
Milk powders	1,015	875	881
Other products	745	682	705
Dairy wastage and stock change	254	292	272
Other uses	130	130	130
Production as a % of new supply	106%	105%	105%

Notes for tables 8.6a to 8.6c:

1. Dairy herd figures are the average size of the dairy herd across the whole year.
2. Dairy herd is defined as dairy cows over two years of age with offspring.
3. Milk from dairy herd excludes suckled milk. Milk from beef cows is no longer recorded as no longer considered significant. This item has been removed from this table but can still be found in the accompanying dataset to 2016.
4. On-farm use is farmhouse consumption and milk fed to livestock.
5. Raw milk leaving farm in the value of raw milk sold to other businesses (dairies) for processing.
6. Processed milk products from farm are sold direct to the consumer.
7. Prices are average milk producer prices, net of delivery charges.
8. Condensed milk includes that used in the production of chocolate crumb and in the production of machine skimmed milk.
9. “Other uses” include farmhouse consumption, milk fed to stock and on farm waste. Excludes suckled milk.

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Hen eggs

The value of egg production for human consumption increased by 11% to £818 million; the fifth consecutive year on year increase and the highest value on record. Overall production of eggs increased by 4.1% on 2020, with increases in both eggs for human consumption and eggs for hatching. The average price of eggs also increased by 6.2% (4.8 pence per dozen) to 81.7 pence per dozen. This average price rise was partly due to the increase of the free range market share (59% in 2021 compared to 54% the year before), together with generally increasing prices (see egg statistics).

From 29 November 2021, a UK-wide housing order was introduced to protect poultry against avian influenza. Outbreaks of this disease led to some culls of birds towards the end of the year. However, although all free range birds had to be housed indoors, their eggs were still able to be sold as free range beyond the end of 2021.

There was a large decrease by 20% of imports of eggs in 2021, the lowest imports since 2002. At the same time, exports increased by 32%. The UK egg price was above the EU price for most of 2021 having been lower for over 3 years prior.

Table 8.7a to 8.7c - Hen eggs

Enquiries: Abigail Hayes on +44 (0) 2077 141 375
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.7a

Population (thousands at June)	2019	2020	2021
Number of laying fowl	41,346	39,758	40,568

Table 8.7b

Production (million dozen)	2019	2020	2021
Volume of production of eggs	1,128	1,105	1,150
Eggs for human consumption	979	962	1,001
Eggs for hatching	119	128	131
Other (a)	30	16	18
Value of production of eggs for human consumption (£ million) (b)	659	740	818
Prices (pence per dozen)
Weighted average of eggs graded in the UK	67.4	76.9	81.7

Table 8.7c

Supply and use (million dozen)	2019	2020	2021
UK production of eggs for human consumption	979	962	1,001
Eggs sold in shell	852	852	882
Eggs processed	127	109	119
Imports from the EU	151	148	118
Imports from the rest of the world	1	1	1
Exports to the EU	79	26	34
Exports to the rest of the world	-	-	1
Total new supply	1,052	1,084	1,085
Production as % of new supply for use in the UK	93%	89%	92%

Notes for tables 8.7a to 8.7c:

1. “Other” eggs include hatching eggs for export and waste.
2. Eggs for hatching and hatching egg exports are not valued as they are included in the final value for poultry in table 8.5.
3. Prices are those paid by packers to producers in the United Kingdom and take account of all egg systems - intensive, free range, barn and organic. Bonus payments are included.
4. EU trade figures include shell egg equivalent of whole (dried, frozen and liquid) egg, egg yolk and albumen.
5. – indicates a ‘nil’ or ‘negligible’ value.

Download the full Livestock dataset.

Revisions

Figures in these tables for 2021 are provisional and may be subject to revision.

Revisions have been made to previous data due to on-going revisions caused by estimated survey data being replaced with actual data when it is received; survey respondents supplying amended figures for previous survey periods; changes to data supplied by Scotland and Northern Ireland and amended administrative data; updates to trade data supplied by HMRC; and methodological changes.