Accredited official 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.