Key points

• Pigs: UK clean pig slaughterings were 6 per cent higher than in November 2010 at 830 thousand head. Pigmeat production was 68 thousand tonnes, a rise of 5 per cent on November 2010.
• Cattle: UK prime cattle slaughterings were 6 per cent lower than in November 2010 at 167 thousand head. Beef and veal production was 76 thousand tonnes, 6 per cent lower than in November 2010.
• Sheep: UK clean sheep slaughterings were 6 per cent lower than in November 2010 at 1146 thousand head. Mutton and lamb production was 26 thousand tonnes, 7 per cent lower than in November 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 carcase 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
	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Clean pigs	196	178	180	191	189	177	178	185	187	190	199	199	208
Sows and boars	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Steers	21	18	20	20	21	20	20	18	17	19	21	21	20
Heifers	17	15	17	17	16	15	15	14	13	13	15	15	16
Young bulls	6	5	6	6	6	6	7	8	7	6	6	5	5
Cows and adult bulls	16	11	14	12	11	10	12	12	11	12	13	15	15
Calves	2	1	1	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	2	2	2
Other Sheep and Lambs	305	250	205	207	201	192	180	211	260	279	291	312	287
Ewes and Rams	47	39	39	40	35	34	34	35	39	40	40	45	43
* Data are confidential

United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering - Pigs

United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Cattle

United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Sheep

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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