UK reports beef production decline - AHDB
Decline driven by lighter cattle, lower slaughter
23 March 2023
1 minute read
By: Beef and veal production sat at 71,400 tonnes for February, according to the latest Defra production statistics and a recent report from AHDB analyst Isabelle Shohet. According to her report, production is down 3.9% from January levels, and 1.9% from February 2022 production.
The main driver of lower production in February was lower slaughter, which was down 2.5% from January, but just 0.9% from February 2022.
In February, average carcase weights for prime cattle stood at 343 kg/head. Carcase weights are up 0.7 kg from January, Shohet reported.
"Cull cow slaughter levels show a different picture, with total slaughter for cows and adult bulls at 54,500 head, trending 8.7% lower than the previous month," she said. "Slaughter levels year-on-year do show an overall uptick of 2,400 head."
