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UK beef production ticks up in May
Thursday, 23 June 2022
The UK produced 79,100 tonnes of beef and veal in May according to Defra figures, 9% more than April, and 7% more than May 2021.
A total of 179,700 prime cattle were processed during the month, 8% more than the same month a year ago.
Heifers saw the largest uplift in kill, up 11% (7,500 head) versus a year ago. Steer kill increased by 7%, and young bulls by 3%. National cow kill grew by 5% year-on-year to 51,000 head.
Average finished cattle carcase weights showed little change in May, down 0.5% to 345kg. Steers and heifers were slightly lighter on average, while young bulls were slightly heavier. Cow carcase weights remained largely unchanged.
For the year-to-date, prime cattle slaughter totalled 829,000 head, marginally behind the number processed by this point a year ago (-0.5%). Since January 2021, monthly prime kill had been continuously running lower year-on-year. However, Defra’s data suggests that kill is picking up as 2022 rolls on.
Cow kill for the year-to-date reached 259,500 head, up 3% year-on-year.
This brought total beef production for the first five months of the year to 375,500 tonnes, largely flat (+0.1%) versus the same period a year ago.
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