National statistics

Chapter 8: Livestock

Updated 20 February 2024

Summary

Key results for 2022 compared to 2021

• The value of beef and veal increased by 12% to £3.8bn. Home-fed production increased by 2.0% to 928 thousand tonnes.
• The value of pig meat increased by 18% to £1.7bn. Home-fed production increased by 0.5% to 1,002 thousand tonnes.
• The value of mutton and lamb production increased by 3.3% to £1.6bn. Home-fed production increased by 2.9% to 302 thousand tonnes.
• The value of poultry meat increased by 3.9% to £3.1bn. Home-fed production decreased by 1.9% to 2.0 million tonnes.
• The value of milk and milk products increased by 40% to £6.7bn, due to increased prices.
• The value of eggs for human consumption decreased by 4.0% to £786m. Production decreased by 7.2% to 0.9 billion dozens.

Meat production

Total meat production in 2022 remained at 4.2 million tonnes, 18% higher than a decade earlier. Red meat production increased in 2022, with mutton and lamb production showing the largest increase (2.9%). This was balanced out by a 1.9% decrease in poultry production. Poultry continues to make up 47% of home-fed meat production.

The total value of meat increased by 9.0% to £10.3bn, due to high prices throughout 2022. There was notable increases in the value of cattle and pig meat production (12% and 18% respectively). This the 7th consecutive year of increases in the value of poultry meat production, with a 3.9% increase in 2022 despite a fall in production this year.

Table 8.1a to 8.1b - Meat production

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.1a

Home-fed production (‘000 tonnes)	2020	2021	2022
Cattle	935	910	928
Pigs	944	997	1,002
Sheep	306	293	302
Poultry	1,993	1,989	1,951
Total production	4,178	4,188	4,182

Table 8.1b

Value of production (£ million)	2020	2021	2022
Cattle	2,955	3,349	3,758
Pigs	1,481	1,461	1,727
Sheep	1,363	1,574	1,626
Poultry	2,829	3,031	3,149
Total value	8,628	9,415	10,260

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Cattle and calves: beef and veal

The value of beef and veal production increased by 12% to £3.8bn in 2022, following an increase of 13% in 2021. In 2022 this increase in value was driven by increasing prices, including an 8.5% increase in the price of finished prime cattle. However, farmers experienced drastically increased input costs, with a 34% increase in the average price of cattle and calf feed in Q3 2022 compared to Q3 2021 (see Animal feed prices).

Home-fed cattle production increased by 2.0% to 928 thousand tonnes, following a decrease of 2.7% between 2020 and 2021. Retail demand was highly variable across the year. There was an early decrease in demand partially due to COVID-19. However, by the summer demand recovered before falling again in the autumn and winter due to increases in the cost of living. The impact of drought in the summer was minimal due to sufficient grass growth. Total beef and veal exports to the EU increased by 34% from 2021, a 11% increase on the 5-year average.

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

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.2a

Population (thousand head at June)	2020	2021	2022
Total cattle and calves	9,615	9,603	9,632
Dairy cows	1,850	1,850	1,842
Beef cows	1,509	1,485	1,463

Table 8.2b

Production	2020	2021	2022
Total home-fed marketings (thousand head)	2,854	2,776	2,844
Steers, heifers and young bulls	2,047	2,017	2,062
Calves	106	128	126
Cows and adult bulls	700	631	656
Average dressed carcase weight (kg):
Steers, heifers and young bulls	346	347	346
Calves	76	88	79
Cows and adult bulls	312	315	313
Production (dressed carcase weight):
Home-fed production	935	910	928
Value of production (£ million)	2,955	3,349	3,758
Value of home-fed production	3,013	3,312	3,744
Change in work-in-progress	-57	39	33
Less imported livestock	1	2	21
Plus breeding animals exported	-	-	1
Subsidies	40	40	40
Value of production at basic price (£ million)	2,995	3,389	3,798
Price (pence per kg deadweight)
Finished cattle: All prime cattle	353	398	432

Table 8.2c

Supply & use (thousand tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2020	2021	2022
Home-fed production	935	910	928
Imports from EU	301	310	284
Imports from the rest of the world	6	11	13
Exports to EU	113	98	131
Exports to the rest of the world	35	34	22
Total new supply	1,094	1,099	1,072
Home-fed production as % of new supply for use in the UK	85%	83%	87%

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’.

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Pigs and pig meat

Home-fed pig meat production in 2022 reached the highest level since 1999 at 1,002 thousand tonnes, increasing by 0.5% from 2021. The effects of the pig backlog in autumn/winter 2021 continued into the first half of 2022, driving production gains. Q1 2022 had the highest recorded average clean pig carcase weight at 93.58 kg/head, a 4.8% increase on Q1 2021 (see Cattle, sheep and pig slaughter statistics). The value of home-fed pig meat production increased by 21% due to very high prices. The average clean pig deadweight price increased by 20% (29.5 pence per kg) to £1.78 per kg. Prices were below average at the start of the year due the over-supply issues encountered in 2021 before reaching historical highs in the latter half of the year. Input costs were high throughout the year, with the average cost of compound pig feed increasing by 33% compared to 2021 (see Animal feed prices).

Table 8.3a to 8.3c - Pigs and pig meat

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.3a

Population	2020	2021	2022
Total pigs (thousand head at June)	5,055	5,323	5,192
Sows in pig and other sows for breeding	345	345	301
Gilts in pig	57	54	42

Table 8.3b

Production	2020	2021	2022
Total home-fed marketings (thousand head)	10,693	11,070	10,964
Clean pigs	10,436	10,793	10,683
Sows and boars	257	278	280
Average dressed carcase weight (kg):
Clean pigs	87	89	90
Sows and boars	144	146	144
Production (dressed carcase weight):
Home-fed production	944	997	1,002
Value of production (£ million)	1,481	1,461	1,727
Value of home-fed production	1,474	1,439	1,743
Change in work in progress	4	20	-16
Less imported livestock	. .	. .	. .
Plus breeding animals exported	3	2	0
Price (pence per kg deadweight)
Clean pigs	161	148	178

Table 8.3c

Supply & use (thousand tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2020	2021	2022
Home-fed production	944	997	1,002
Imports from EU	665	623	658
Imports from rest of the world	1	1	1
Exports to EU	138	85	117
Exports to rest of the world	147	126	100
Total new supply	1,325	1,409	1,444
Home-fed production as % of new supply for use in the UK	71%	71%	69%

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

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Sheep and lambs: mutton and lamb

The value of home-fed sheep meat production increased by 3.4% to £1.6bn. This is due to an increase in home-fed production which increased by 2.9% to 302 thousand tonnes compared to 2021. The price of finished sheep in Great Britain slightly dropped (-1.7%) compared to 2021, at £5.67 per kg. However, this drop in price should be understood in context of a historically high price in 2021 (£5.76 per kg). Sheep are less reliant on feed compared to other areas of meat production, so the industry has been less affected by a 29% increase in compound sheep feed prices during 2022 (see Animal feed prices).

Both imports and exports of lamb and mutton have bounced back after a decline in 2021, increasing by 15% and 7.1% respectively. These increases have been driven by lamb and mutton trade with the EU stabilising after a decline in EU trade in early 2021. There has been an increase in imports from Ireland, who are now the second largest supplier of sheep meat to the UK (after New Zealand).

Table 8.4a to 8.4c - Sheep and lambs: mutton and lamb

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.4a

Population	2020	2021	2022
Total sheep and lambs (thousand head at June)	32,697	32,957	33,066
Breeding flock 1 year and over	15,370	15,624	15,779
Lambs under one year old	16,486	16,403	16,401

Table 8.4b

Production	2020	2021	2022
Total home-fed marketings (thousand head)	14,985	14,010	14,443
Clean sheep and lambs	13,482	12,261	12,684
Ewes and rams	1,502	1,749	1,759
Average dressed carcase weight (kg):
Clean sheep and lambs	20	20	20
Ewes and rams	27	27	26
Production (dressed carcase weight):
Home-fed production	306	293	302
Value of production (£ million)	1,363	1,574	1 626
Value of home-fed production	1,373	1,572	1 625
Change in work in progress	-10	3	1
Less imported livestock	-	-	-
Plus breeding animals exported	-	-	-
Subsidies	7	7	7
Value of production at basic prices (£ million)	1,370	1,581	1,633
Price
Finished sheep (Great Britain pence per kg dressed carcase weight)	475	576	567

Table 8.4c

Supply & use (dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2020	2021	2022
Home-fed production	306	293	302
Imports from the EU	14	7	16
Imports from the rest of the world	58	52	52
Exports to the EU	92	75	82
Exports to the rest of the world	9	6	5
Total new supply	276	271	283
Home-fed production as % of new supply for use in the UK	111%	108%	107%

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. Home fed marketings and production for 2021 and 2022 is based on Food Standards Agency administrative slaughter data.
9. – means ‘nil’ or ‘negligible’.

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Poultry and poultry meat

The overall value of home-fed poultry meat production increased by 3.9% in 2021 to £3.1bn. This was primarily driven by a 5.1% increase in the value of table chickens. The producer price of poultry increased, with a 6.2% increase in the price of table chickens to £1.48 per kg.

Overall home-fed poultry meat production decreased by 1.9% to 1.95bn tonnes, with a 1.1% decrease in table chicken meat production to 1.75bn tonnes. There were large reductions in the home-fed production of other poultry meat, with a 6.6% reduction in turkey meat. This contraction in production was driven by very high input costs, with a 31% increase in poultry feed (see Animal feed prices). Avian Influenza outbreaks at the start and end of 2022, and the subsequent housing orders, also contributed to a decrease in production.

The combination of high energy costs, high feed costs and Avian Influenza have also impacted poultry populations and the number of chick placements. Overall poultry numbers at June 2022 have dropped by 1% to 188 million, with a 0.5% decrease in table chicken population and an 8.8% reduction in other poultry (ducks, geese, turkeys, all other poultry). Placements have also fallen in 2022, with a 4.0% reduction in commercial broiler chick placements and a 9.0% reduction in turkey poult placements (see Poultry slaughter and hatchery statistics).

Table 8.5a to 8.5c - Poultry and poultry meat

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.5a

Population	2020	2021	2022
Number (thousand head at June):	181,957	190,019	188,187
Table chickens	118,388	126,693	126,052
Laying and breeding fowl	53,544	52,839	52,570
Turkeys, ducks, geese and all other poultry	10,025	10,487	9,564

Table 8.5b

Production	2020	2021	2022
Slaughterings (millions):	1,182	1,194	1,146
Table chickens	1,097	1,123	1,085
Boiling fowls (culled hens)	58	49	43
Turkeys	16	12	10
Ducks & geese	11	10	9
Production (carcase weight):	1,993	1,989	1,951
Chickens and other table fowls	1,711	1,770	1,751
Boiling fowls (culled hens)	84	70	64
Turkeys	174	125	117
Ducks & geese	25	23	20
Value of production (£ million):	2,829	3,031	3,149
Table chickens	2,256	2,473	2,598
Boiling fowls (culled hens)	8	7	6
Turkeys, ducks, geese	379	329	310
Change in work in progress in fowls	-11	20	1
Exports of live poultry	161	162	178
Hatching eggs for export	92	75	84
Less live poultry imported	18	11	7
Less hatching eggs imported	38	22	23

Table 8.5c

Supply & use (thousand tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent)	2020	2021	2022
Production	1,993	1,989	1,951
Imports from the EU	420	395	395
Imports to the rest of the world	14	23	23
Exports to the EU	313	237	237
Exports to the rest of the world	97	97	97
Total new supply	2,017	2,073	2,035
Production as % of new supply for use in the UK	99%	96%	96%

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’.

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Milk

Milk production for human consumption decreased by less than 1% to 14.9 billion litres, a second year-on-year decrease. The dairy herd fell by less than 1% to 1848 thousand head and the average yield per cow decreased by less than 1% to 8,166 per annum.

The average milk price across the 2022 calendar year (excluding bonus payments) increased by 13 pence per litre (ppl) to a historic high of 44.0 ppl, an increase of 42%. High input costs and issues with sourcing on-farm labour led to a contraction in the milk supply at the end of 2021 and into 2022. In response processors increased prices to farmers to encourage production, with farm-gate prices reaching a record 51.6ppl in December 2022 (see Milk Prices). The price rises meant that the total value of production increased by 40% to the highest value on record of £6.7n.

Table 8.6a to 8.6c – Milk

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.6a

Population and yield	2020	2021	2022
Dairy herd (annual average, thousand head)	1,856	1,853	1,848
Average yield per dairy cow (litres per annum)	8,208	8,213	8,166

Table 8.6b

Production (million litres)	2020	2021	2022
Milk from the dairy herd	15,229	15,214	15,088
Milk from the beef herd	-	-	-
Raw milk leaving farm	15,002	14,983	14,857
Milk processed on farm	87	90	91
On farm use	139	140	139
Volume for human consumption	15,089	15,073	14,949
Value of production (£ million)	4,426	4,769	6,659
Raw milk leaving farm	4,337	4,674	6,532
Processed milk products from farm	49	51	66
On farm use	40	44	61
Subsidies	. .	. .	. .
Less levies	. .	. .	. .
Value of production at market prices (£ million)	4,426	4,770	6,659
Prices (average milk producer prices, net of delivery charges (pence per litre))
Farmgate price excluding bonus payments	29	31	44
Farmgate price including bonus payments	29	31	44

Table 8.6c

Supply & use (million litres)	2020	2021	2022
Production (excludes on farm use from 2015)	15,089	15,073	14,949
Imports	116	177	177
Exports	872	885	885
Total new supply	14,333	14,366	14,242
For liquid consumption	6,228	6,129	6,016
for manufacture	7,813	7,972	7,944
Butter	408	438	426
Cheese	4,641	4,703	4,844
Cream	327	326	326
Yoghurt	528	463	423
Condensed milk	351	343	337
Milk powders	875	1,003	948
Other products	682	696	639
Dairy wastage and stock change	292	266	282
Other uses	130	130	129
Production as a % of new supply	105%	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.

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Hen eggs

The value of egg production for human consumption decreased by 4.0% to £786 million after five consecutive year on year increases. This decrease was driven by a reduction in overall egg production which decreased by 6.5% on 2021. Eggs for human consumption fell by 7.2% and eggs for hatching decreased by 1.9%. Layer chick placements also fell in 2022 to 13.7 million chicks, a decrease of 8.7% (see Poultry slaughter and hatchery statistics). High input costs and the impacts of Avian Influenza led to scaled back egg production in 2022, despite strong retail demand.

The average price of eggs increased by 3.4% (2.8 pence per dozen) to 84.5 pence per dozen. This average price rise is mainly due to the contraction in the supply of eggs. An increase in the free-range market share also contributed to a higher overall farmgate price, increasing from 59% in 2021 to 61% in 2022 (see Egg production and prices).

Egg imports have recovered in 2022 after 2021 which had the lowest egg imports since 2002. Imports have increased by 7.5% in 2022 although they remain well below the 5-year average. In contrast, exports have decreased by 20%.

Table 8.7a to 8.7c - Hen eggs

Enquiries: Alexandra Hall on +44 20 7714 1374
Email: defra.fisu@defra.gov.uk

Table 8.7a

Population (thousands at June)	2020	2021	2022
Number of laying fowl	39,758	40,568	40,246

Table 8.7b

Production	2020	2021	2022
Volume of production of eggs	1,105	1,150	1,075
Eggs for human consumption	962	1,001	929
Eggs for hatching	128	131	128
Other	16	18	18
Value of production of eggs for human consumption (£ million)	740	818	786
Prices (pence per dozen)
Weighted average of eggs graded in the UK	76.9	81.7	84.5

Table 8.7c

Supply and use	2020	2021	2022
UK production of eggs for human consumption	962	1,001	929
Eggs sold in shell	852	882	818
Eggs processed	109	119	111
Imports from the EU	148	118	127
Imports from the rest of the world	1	1	1
Exports to the EU	26	34	27
Exports to the rest of the world	-	1	1
Total new supply	1,084	1,085	1,029
Production as % of new supply for use in the UK	89%	92%	90%

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
6. Egg production figures have been revised following the publication of Total Income from Farming 2022. As such, the 2022 egg production and value of production figures quoted in tables 8.7a-c in Chapter 8 and table 8.7 in the dataset will differ from those in Chapter 4 - Accounts.

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Revisions

Figures in these tables for 2022 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.