Search our website enhanced by Google.
Lighter cattle and lower slaughter drives beef production decline
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Beef and veal production sat at 71,400 tonnes for February, according to the latest Defra production statistics. This is down 2,900t (3.9%) from January levels, and 1,400t (1.9%) down on production in February 2022.
Month on month, lower slaughter figures are the main driver of lower production in February, as prime cattle slaughter levels hit 157,400 head, down 4,000 head (2.5%) from January. This is similar to slaughter seen in February 2022, down only 1,500 head (0.9%) and sits below the 5-year average by 2,300 head.
Average carcase weights for prime cattle stood at 343kg/head in February, 0.7kg higher than January. Despite carcase weights recording little fluctuation month-on-month, there has been a fall of 7.8kg/head since February last year, driving the overall decline in year-on-year production.
Cull cow slaughter levels show a different picture, with total slaughter for cows and adult bulls at 54,500 head, trending 8.7% (5,200 head) lower than the previous month. Slaughter levels year-on-year do show an overall uptick of 2,400 head.
Average cow carcase weights have seen a small uplift month on month, up 1kg to 308kg/head. However, as with prime cattle there has been a decline of 6.5kg/head compared to February 2022.
Sign up for regular updates
You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.