Q1 production boosted by higher average carcase weights: Beef and lamb market update

Key points

• Slaughter throughputs across both prime cattle and cows were lower in Q1 of 2026, versus the year before.
• Heavier average carcase weights for prime cattle have boosted beef production, to sit 1% higher year on year at 226,000 tonnes.
• Lamb production has grown year on year to total 70,000 tonnes, driven by a combination increased throughputs and higher average weights.

Beef

Prime cattle slaughter totalled 499,000 head in the first quarter of 2026, a 0.9% fall on the same period of the previous year.

Meanwhile, prime cattle carcase weights grew to average 353.6kg for Q1 of this year. This represents a 3% increase year on year.

Cow throughputs also fell on the year, totalling 146,000 head for the period of January-March 2026, down 1.9% on the year. The average carcase weight of cows has fallen slightly on the year (0.8%), which may reflect changes in the makeup of slaughter, with an increasing proportion of dairy cows and fewer suckler cows.

Overall, beef production totalled 226,000 tonnes in the first quarter of this year. This was a 1.3% increase year on year, with growth in carcase weights of prime cattle offsetting lower numbers of animals.

Slaughter number in the first quarter have matched those in our beef market outlook, published earlier this year. However, with some growth in carcase weights, we have seen production boosted slightly above our expectations which may be putting some downward pressure on prices.

Figure 1. Q1 UK beef production (Jan-Mar)

Source: Defra

Figure 1 shows Q1 UK beef production for 2022 to 2026. Total production is show by the green line, with prime and cow slaughter shown by the blue and grey stacked bars.

Lamb

We have seen stronger numbers of clean sheep in the first quarter of 2026, compared to last year, with Defra’s clean sheep slaughter number totalling 2.91 million head for Jan-Mar. This sits 5.3% higher than the same period of 2025 and is in line with expectations outlined in our lamb market outlook.

Adult sheep slaughter has also been higher, up 1.1% year on year to total 321,000 head for the period of January-March 2026.

We have also seen heavier carcase weights in Q1 with sheep average 21.1kg, up by 2.6% on last year’s average.

This combination of greater numbers and increased carcase weights has led to a year-on-year uplift in production of 7.4%, with 2026 Q1 sheep meat production totalling 70,000 tonnes.

Despite this increase in production, we have seen strength in lamb prices in recent weeks, supported by strong seasonal and export demand.

Figure 2. UK sheep meat production YTD (Jan-Mar)

Source: Defra

Figure 2 shows Q1 UK sheep meat production for 2022 to 2026. Total production is show by the green line, with clean and adult sheep slaughter shown by the blue and grey stacked bars.

You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.