Accredited official statistics

Monthly UK statistics on cattle, sheep and pig slaughter and meat production– November 2022 (published 22 December 2022)

Updated 16 February 2023

1. Key messages.

  • UK prime cattle (steers, heifers and young bulls) slaughterings in November 2022 were up 5.2% on November 2021 at 178,000 head. Beef and veal production was 84,000 tonnes, 6.1% higher than in November 2021.

  • UK clean sheep slaughterings were down 2.9% on November 2021 at 1124,000 head. Mutton and lamb production was 24,000 tonnes, 3.9% lower than in November 2021.

  • UK clean pig slaughterings were up 0.5% on November 2021 at 995,000 head. Pigmeat production was 92,000 tonnes, 1.5% lower than in November 2021.

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)

Nov 21 Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22 yr on yr
  30 days 30 days 31 days 30 days % change
Steers 86 81 88 90 4.6%
Heifers 70 66 70 74 5.8%
Young Bulls 13 15 14 13 5.5%
Cows and Adult Bulls 68 60 72 76 11%
Calves 6 8 9 9 59%
Clean Sheep 1157 1036 1100 1124 -2.9%
Ewes and Rams 89 107 108 96 8.0%
Clean Pigs 990 921 925 995 0.5%
Sows and Boars 23 21 20 20 -13%

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)

Nov 21 Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22
Steers 20 19 20 21
Heifers 16 15 16 17
Young Bulls 3 3 3 3
Cows and Adult Bulls 16 14 16 18
Calves 1 2 2 2
Clean Sheep 270 242 248 262
Ewes and Rams 21 25 24 22
Clean Pigs 231 215 209 232
Sows and Boars 5 5 4 5

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

United Kingdom average weekly numbers of cattle slaughtered

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

United Kingdom average weekly numbers of sheep slaughtered

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

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 Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22
  30 days 31 days 30 days
Steers 50 53 56
Heifers 42 44 47
Young Bulls 10 9 9
Cows and Adult Bulls 42 50 53
Calves 7 8 8
Clean Sheep 907 959 988
Ewes and Rams 103 103 91
Clean Pigs 747 738 801
Sows and Boars 19 18 18
Scotland Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22
  30 days 31 days 30 days
Steers 15 17 17
Heifers 12 13 13
Young Bulls 2 2 1
Cows and Adult Bulls 7 9 9
Calves 0 0 0
Clean Sheep 86 93 92
Ewes and Rams 2 2 2
Clean Pigs 20 22 21
Sows and Boars 1 2 1
Great Britain Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22
  30 days 31 days 30 days
Steers 65 69 73
Heifers 54 57 60
Young Bulls 12 11 10
Cows and Adult Bulls 50 59 62
Calves 7 8 8
Clean Sheep 992 1052 1080
Ewes and Rams 105 105 93
Clean Pigs 767 760 821
Sows and Boars 21 20 20
Northern Ireland Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22
  30 days 31 days 30 days
Steers 16 19 17
Heifers 12 14 14
Young Bulls 3 3 3
Cows and Adult Bulls 10 13 14
Calves 1 1 1
Clean Sheep 44 48 44
Ewes and Rams 3 3 3
Clean Pigs 154 165 174
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)

Aug 22 Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22
Steers 356.4 355.5 355.7 354.3
Heifers 322.7 321.6 320.9 321.4
Young Bulls 355.3 350.0 347.3 355.3
Cows and Adult Bulls 308.5 303.2 305.4 303.7
Calves 91.1 67.9 61.6 62.4
Clean Sheep 19.7 19.7 19.9 19.7
Ewes and Rams 24.4 24.2 23.3 24.0
Clean Pigs 87.4 88.7 90.2 89.4
Sows and Boars 144.9 147.5 149.1 148.5

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)

Nov 21 Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22 yr on yr
  30 days 30 days 31 days 30 days % change
Beef 79 74 82 84 6.1%
Mutton and Lamb 25 23 24 24 -3.9%
Pigmeat 93 85 86 92 -1.5%

5. About these statistics

5.1 Survey response

This month our survey response was 84%.

5.2 Methodology

Defra runs a monthly survey of registered England and Wales slaughterhouses. It is a statutory survey (approximately 85) 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 100%. Similar surveys are run by RERAD 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 from 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:

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 12th January 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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