England abattoir numbers – pigs

Updated 1 May 2025

This data shows the number and size of English red meat and pig abattoirs operating each year.

Red meat abattoirs in England

Red meat abattoirs201620172018201920202021202220232024
All red meat abattoirs 188 184 179 165 159 151 151 147 143

Source: AHDB

Pig abattoirs in England

Pig abattoirs201620172018201920202021202220232024
Total pig abattoirs 118 112 115 103 94 87 86 84 81
Pig slaughterings (000 head) 9,008 8,705 9,020 8,920 9,009 9,291 9,221 8,199 8,374
Average throughput (000 head) 76.3 77.7 78.4 86.6 95.8 106.8 107.2 97.6 103.4
Specialist pig abattoirs* 14 15 14 14 12 11 10 10 8

Source: AHDB

Size profile of specialist pig abattoirs in England, 2024

Size band (head)Number of abattoirsTotal throughput (head)Average throughput (head)Share of throughput (%)
1-750,000 3 485,312 161,771 7
>750,000 5 6,239,952 1,247,990 93
Total 8 6,725,264 840,658 100

Source: AHDB

  

  

  

Additional information

*Abattoirs included in total pig abattoir numbers.

Specialist abattoirs are abattoirs where 95% of slaughterings are pigs.

Contact us

This dataset was produced by our Data and Analysis Team. To find out more about the team, please visit the Data and Analysis team page.

If you need any further help, please email Martin, Esther or Dorian at econ@ahdb.org.uk 

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