Beef and lamb market summary 2024

This page provides a snapshot of key information from the beef and lamb markets in 2024.

GB prices

The GB prime cattle price was 497.3 pence per kg deadweight for 2024, up 4.5% on 2023.

In 2024 the GB cull cow price increased by 3.0% on the previous year, to 354.6 pence per kg deadweight.

The GB deadweight lamb SQQ (Standard Quality Quotation) for 2024 stood at 693.3 pence per kg, up 19.9% on the previous year.

Figure 1. GB prime cattle prices (p/kg deadweight)

Figure 3. GB lamb SQQ* price (p/kg deadweight)

*SQQ: Standard Quality Quotation for lambs 12–21.5 kg deadweight. With effect from w/e 25 November 2023, AHDB introduced a change to deadweight sheep price reporting to help standardise dressing specifications across the survey.

Figure 2. GB cull cow prices (p/kg deadweight)

Prices quoted are 12-month averages for Jan–Dec 2024. Graphs show weekly prices.

UK slaughterings

UK prime cattle slaughterings in 2024 totalled 2,117,700 head, up 82,700 head on 2023. Cow slaughterings totalled 624,200 head, up 12,400 on the year.

Clean sheep slaughterings in the UK in 2024 stood at 11,432,100 head, down 846,500 head on 2023.

Figure 4. UK slaughterings ('000 head)

Source: Defra, 12-month total ending December

UK production

Beef and veal production for 2024 was up 3.8% on 2023 at 934.4 thousand tonnes. In contrast, 2024 sheep meat production was down 6.8% on the previous year to 266.5 thousand tonnes.

Figure 5. UK production ('000 tonnes)

Source: Defra 12-month total ending December

UK self-sufficiency

UK self-sufficiency for beef and veal in 2024 remained unchanged on the year, at 80.9%. However, sheep meat was down 11.3 percentage points on 2023, to 99.4%.

Figure 6. UK self-sufficiency 2024 (%)

Self-sufficiency = production/consumption (where consumption is production + imports - exports)

Source: AHDB. Calculations based on data from Defra, UK HMRC compiled by Trade Data Monitor LLC.

Global prices

The Northern Ireland R3 steers price for 2024 stood at 487.8 pence per kg deadweight, up 3.0% on the previous year.

For 2024, the Republic of Ireland R3 steer price was 437.8 pence per kg deadweight, an increase of 1.4% on the price for 2023.

The French lamb price stood at 797.8 pence per kg deadweight for 2024, 11.1% up on the previous year.

Figure 7. Global prices (p/kg deadweight)

Prices quoted are 12-month averages for Jan–Dec 2024.

GB retail sales

In 2024 lamb sales were 87,200 tonnes with £950 million spent. The average retail price of lamb consumed was up 3.1% on the year.

In the same year, 577 thousand tonnes of beef were sold in the retail sector, accounting for a spend of £5.10 billion, with the average price up 4.2% on 2023.

Figure 8. GB retail sales

Source: Kantar, 52 w/e 29 Dec 2024, GB household consumption spend

UK trade

In 2024, the UK exported 112,553 tonnes of beef and veal worldwide and 79,512 tonnes of sheep meat, of which 86% and 95% respectively, went to the EU.

UK imports of beef and veal totalled 240,705 tonnes in 2024. UK imports of sheep meat totalled 67,878 tonnes in the same year. Just 9% of beef and veal arrived from non-EU countries in comparison to 88% for sheep meat.

Figure 9. UK sheep meat, beef and veal exports and imports (tonnes)

Figure 10. UK trade (%) with the EU compared to the rest of the world

*Total fresh and frozen
Source: UK HMRC compiled by Trade Data Moitor LLC, 12-month total ending Dec 2024. Further publication of the trade flow information is prohibited unless expressly permitted by Trade Data Monitor LLC.