UK beef and lamb production falls in August: Beef and lamb market update

Key Points

• UK beef production fell by 4% on the month in August
• Average prime cattle carcase weights increased slightly to 350 kg, an uplift of 2.3 kg compared to July
• UK sheep meat production for August 2025 was 20,400 tonnes, 500 tonnes (2%) lower than the previous month
• Adult sheep slaughter increased by 8,800 head (8%) month-on-month, to total 118,000 head in August

Beef

Latest data published by Defra recorded UK beef production at 68,100 tonnes in August, a decrease of 2,900 tonnes (4%) from July. Beef production for the first 8 months of the year totals 582,000 tonnes, a decrease of 5% (29,000 tonnes) versus the same period in 2024.

Prime cattle slaughter reached 153,500 head in August; a decrease of 8,400 head (5%) compared to July. This is a 12,100 head (7%) reduction compared to the same month in 2024. January–August prime kill totalled 1.3 million head, which is 65,500 head lower than the same period of last year.

Average prime cattle carcase weights increased slightly in August to 350 kg, growth of 2.3 kg compared to July. This is 2% higher than August 2024. This may reflect producers holding on to cattle longer to maximise returns from strong prices.

Cull cow slaughter fell by 4% (1,600 head) to 42,800 head when compared to July. This is a decrease of 10% (4,600 head) compared to the same month last year.

UK beef production YTD (Jan–Aug)

Source: Defra

Lamb

UK sheep meat production for August 2025 totalled 20,400 tonnes, 500 tonnes (2%) lower than the previous month. This is 1,400 tonnes (7%) less when compared to August 2024. Year-to-date (Jan–Aug) production stands at 175,000 tonnes, a 2.5% increase from the same period in 2024.

Clean sheep slaughter reached 868,000 head in August. This was down 31,400 head (3%) from July and back 7% (68,200 head) versus the same month of 2024. This decrease is likely caused by a smaller lamb crop, due to reduced breeding ewe numbers.

Cumulative throughput for the year so far has totalled 7.3 million head, a 1.5% increase from the same period last year with the greater carryover numbers killed in the spring still bolstering overall kill figures for the year to date.

Clean sheep carcase weights grew by just 0.1 kg on the month, averaging 20 kg/head. This figure is up 0.3 kg compared to August 2024.

Adult sheep slaughter increased by 8,800 head (8%) compared to July to total 118,000 head in the latest month’s data. This is 9% lower (11,600 head) than the same period last year. Throughput for the year so far totals 881,000 head, which is 59,600 head (6%) lower than last year. This lower ewe kill may reflect the ongoing contraction of the national breeding flock.

UK sheep meat production YTD (Jan–Aug)

Source: Defra

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