Slaughtering figures

Source: Defra
Units: Head
Last updated: 17/11/2023

Select report month ® Oct 2023 Please see notes here

Oct 2022 Oct 2023 YTD Oct 2022 YTD Oct 2023 % change YTD
United Kingdom
Heifers 72,223 72,133 658,910 672,748 2.1
Steers 96,297 93,657 873,382 865,926 -0.9
Young bulls 15,833 14,706 166,869 165,702 -0.7
Adult bulls 2,370 2,189 17,946 18,338 2.2
Cows 67,092 63,990 499,736 497,706 -0.4
Light calves 9,900 9,280 71,193 69,940 -1.8
Heavy calves 1,445 1,145 15,020 13,689 -8.9
Ewes and rams 157,736 144,060 1,402,429 1,391,134 -0.8
Other sheep and lambs 1,133,221 1,105,382 9,885,570 10,015,763 1.3
Clean pigs** 957,991 882,419 9,257,571 8,368,409 -9.6
Sows and boars*** 19,100 18,216 211,755 173,153 -18.2
Great Britain
Heifers 58,627 59,602 536,941 551,880 2.8
Steers 77,348 76,795 719,787 722,816 0.4
Young bulls 12,341 11,497 130,654 130,427 -0.2
Adult bulls 1,600 1,498 12,503 12,741 1.9
Cows 54,774 52,591 404,174 403,071 -0.3
Light calves * * * * na
Heavy calves * * * * na
Ewes and rams 154,257 141,636 1,378,997 1,369,048 -0.7
Other sheep and lambs 1,085,619 1,058,693 9,522,658 9,617,925 1.0
Clean pigs** 792,561 726,292 7,641,454 6,831,258 -10.6
Sows and boars*** 19,100 18,216 211,755 173,153 -18.2
England and Wales
Heifers 45,677 46,433 410,948 428,618 4.3
Steers 60,647 60,642 559,927 571,527 2.1
Young bulls 10,728 10,295 107,424 109,185 1.6
Adult bulls 1,437 1,386 11,328 11,596 2.4
Cows 45,580 45,677 342,970 345,348 0.7
Light calves * * * * na
Heavy calves * * * * na
Ewes and rams 152,579 140,128 1,364,193 1,351,850 -0.9
Other sheep and lambs 992,656 970,397 8,674,555 8,812,539 1.6
Clean pigs** 770,684 708,180 7,458,519 6,650,405 -10.8
Sows and boars*** 17,587 16,778 196,239 158,238 -19.4
Scotland
Heifers 12,951 13,169 125,994 123,262 -2.2
Steers 16,701 16,153 159,860 151,289 -5.4
Young bulls 1,613 1,202 23,231 21,241 -8.6
Adult bulls 163 112 1,175 1,144 -2.6
Cows 9,195 6,914 61,204 57,724 -5.7
Light calves * * * * na
Heavy calves * * * * na
Ewes and rams 1,678 1,508 14,803 17,198 16.2
Other sheep and lambs 92,963 88,295 848,103 805,386 -5.0
Clean pigs** 21,877 18,112 182,936 180,853 -1.1
Sows and boars*** 1,513 1,438 15,516 14,916 -3.9
Northern Ireland
Heifers 13,595 12,531 121,969 120,868 -0.9
Steers 18,949 16,862 153,596 143,110 -6.8
Young bulls 3,492 3,209 36,215 35,275 -2.6
Adult bulls 770 691 5,443 5,597 2.8
Cows 12,317 11,400 95,562 94,635 -1.0
Light calves * * * * na
Heavy calves * * * * na
Ewes and rams 3,480 2,424 23,432 22,086 -5.7
Other sheep and lambs 47,602 46,689 362,912 397,837 9.6
Clean pigs** 165,430 156,126 1,616,117 1,537,151 -4.9
Sows and boars*** 0 0 0 0 na

* Figures not available

** AHDB are currently querying the clean pig slaughterings for 2023 with Defra.
*** Defra sow and boar slaughterings are currently being investigated, as the values are not in line with AHDB’s sow slaughtering sample.
Production figures
Source: Defra
Units: Thousand tonnes
Last updated: 17/11/2023

Select report month ® Oct 2023 Please see notes here

Aug 2023 Sep 2023 Oct 2023 Jan - Oct 2022 Jan - Oct 2023 % change YTD
Beef and veal 74.2 71.9 82.1 758.3 751.8 -0.9
Mutton and lamb 24.4 22.9 25.2 238.0 235.0 -1.2
Pigmeat 81.2 75.6 82.2 866.6 770.2 -11.1
Notes

April 2023: Defra have changed the methodology for this survey. From April 2023, the livestock slaugh
Standards Agency (FSA) and apportioned into livestock categories. The data for weights of meat produ
survey to then cacluate the production figures.

April 2023: Defra have revised slaughter data from January 2021. This revision is due to an issue Defra
calculating slaughter numbers. Please see the Defra website for further information

September 2019: Defra have reviewed the methodology for calculating production figures with effect fro
January 2018. For more information please see the Defra website.

January 2016: data includes the last week of December 2015 and is classed as a 5 week month.
With effect from February 2016 the figures are based on calendar months. Prior to this, the figures are
Please take this into consideration when comparing datasets.

Figures in this notice are provisional and subject to revision by Defra. They will provide information abo
information in this statistics notice and the associated datasets. Revisions could occur for various reaso
a. if Defra have not received survey data from respondents they make an estimate based on previous r
actual survey data when it is received.
b. survey respondents occasionally supply amended figures for previous periods.
c. if Defra have not received administrative data for the smaller slaughterhouses they make an estimate
estimates will be replaced with actual data when it is received.

For more inforamtion please see the Defra website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cattle-she

This data is updated on a monthly basis.

Disclaimer

While the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board seeks to ensure that the information containe
printing, no warranty is given in respect thereof and, to the maximum extent permitted by law the Agricu
no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused (including that caused by negligence) or suffere
and opinions contained in or omitted from this document.

©Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 2023. All rights reserved.

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Telephone 024 7697 8765

Email econ@ahdb.org.uk
Website ahdb.org.uk
23, the livestock slaughtering numbers will be obtained from Food
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he information contained within this document is accurate at the time of

mitted by law the Agriculture and Horticulture development Board accepts
y negligence) or suffered directly or indirectly in relation to information