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UK beef production higher in July
Thursday, 13 August 2020
The latest Defra statistics show that the UK produced 80,100 tonnes of beef and veal in July. This is 9% (6,600 tonnes) more than was produced in July last year.
As was the case in June, the rise in production was mainly because of a higher kill figure for both prime cattle and cows. In July, 177,300 prime cattle and 57,100 cows were slaughtered, a rise of 10% (15,600 head) and 12% (6,000 head) on the year, respectively.*
Strong prices for finished cattle and cull cows may have drawn more supplies out recently, supported by robust consumer demand. The reopening of foodservice is undoubtedly helping to shift beef, alongside sustained good retail demand. It will be interesting to see what impact the government’s “eat out to help out” scheme has on August’s beef trade, especially carcase balance if consumers decide to trade up to dearer cuts that might otherwise be unaffordable.
Prime cattle dressed carcase weights averaged 344kg, down 1% on the same month last year. Cull cow weights were 1% heavier on the year, averaging 311kg.
The July figures put UK beef and veal production for January-July (inclusive) at 533,700 tonnes, up 2% (11,200 tonnes) from the same period in 2019. Prime slaughter for the same period stands at 1.2 million head, while cow slaughter stands at 367,800 head, both up 2% on the year.
*Defra have noted that the survey response in their latest release was lower than usual due to the disruption caused by COVID-19. To compensate they have made greater use of Food Standards Agency throughput data. This may affect how animal numbers are split between classifications, for example the number of animals split into prime and adult cattle. As such, the data should be treated with some caution and is subject to revision.
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