Search our website enhanced by Google.
Higher December beef production rounds off 2020
Thursday, 14 January 2021
The UK produced 74,500 tonnes of beef and veal in December, up 5% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from Defra.
Prime cattle slaughter in the month increased by 6% year on year to 162,600 head, while cow slaughter increased by 1% to 56,400 head. Several factors may have contributed to higher cattle throughputs; strong domestic prices driven by robust retail demand, the impending EU-exit deadline for those supplying EU markets, and an extra working day during the month this year.
Changes in average carcase weights during December were mixed, with steers on average 1% lighter (3kg), heifers 1% heavier (+2kg) and young bulls 2% heavier (+8kg) on the year. Cows were also heavier year-on-year, by 1% (4kg) on average.
2020 in full
The December figures mean that total beef and veal production in 2020 reached 931,200 tonnes, up 2% from 2019.
Prime cattle slaughter for the full year reached just over 2 million head, a 2% (40,000 head) rise on 2019. The majority of the rise in prime slaughter was due to an increase in heifer numbers, which rose by 4% on the year to 829,100 head. Steer slaughter also rose, by 1% to 1.04 million head.
Young bull slaughter recorded a fourth year of annual decline, falling by a further 5% in 2020 to 182,800 head. Young bulls made up 9% of total UK prime slaughter in 2020, down from 16% ten years ago. Total cow slaughter for the year came to 674,700 head, up 1% on 2019.
Look out for our Agri-Market Outlook this month, in which we will look at how cattle slaughter, production and trade might change in the year ahead.
Sign up for regular updates
You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.