Key points

• Cattle: UK prime cattle slaughterings were one per cent higher than in April 2010 at 204,000 head. Beef and veal production was 86,000 tonnes, one per cent higher than in April 2010.
• Pigs: UK clean pig slaughterings were four per cent higher than in April 2010 at 889,000 head. Pig meat production was 72,000 tonnes, a rise of four per cent on April 2010.
• Sheep: UK clean sheep slaughterings were four per cent higher than in April 2010 at 962,000 head. Mutton and lamb production was 23,000 tonnes, five per cent higher than in April 2010.

Section 1: UK monthly slaughter estimates

This table shows monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom. The survey is run according to statistical, rather than calendar months, the number of weeks in the statistical month is specified below.

Section 2: UK average dressed carcass weights

This table shows the monthly average dressed carcase weight of livestock slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

Section 3: UK monthly home-killed production of meat

This table shows the monthly volumes of meat produced in the United Kingdom. Data is shown according to statistical, rather than calendar months, number of weeks in statistical month as specified.

Section 4: UK average weekly slaughterings

This following table shows the average weekly slaughter figures for the last thirteen months. The monthly slaughter figures in section one are affected by the number of weeks in the statistical month. To get a clearer measure of trends weekly averages are calculated by dividing the number of livestock slaughtered each month by the number of weeks in the statistical month.

Longer term trends can be seen in the charts following this table.

Table 4. UK average weekly slaughterings thousand head
United Kingdom	2010									2011
	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Steers	20	19	18	18	18	21	22	21	18	20	20	21	20
Heifers	15	14	14	13	13	14	15	17	15	17	17	16	15
Young bulls	6	7	8	8	8	7	6	6	5	6	6	6	6
Cows and adult bulls	9	9	9	10	10	11	13	16	11	14	12	11	10
Calves	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	1	2	2	2
Other sheep and lambs	186	175	191	245	287	283	284	306	251	205	207	202	192
Ewes and rams	33	33	35	38	43	41	41	47	39	39	40	35	35
Clean pigs	172	174	171	171	181	184	190	197	179	181	192	191	178
Sows and Boars	4	4	4	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
* Data are confidential

United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Cattle

United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Sheep

United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Pigs

Section 5: UK slaughterings by country

This table shows monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat in England and Wales, Scotland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Data are shown in statistical months, rather than calendar months. The totals for the countries may not add up to the Great Britain totals or the United Kingdom totals in section one, due to rounding.

Further Reading

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