What do these UK livestock and feed statistics measure?

They track the UK livestock farming supply chain, covering animal slaughterings and meat production volumes, eggs set in commercial hatcheries, and compound animal feed production alongside raw feed materials.

How often is UK livestock and feed data updated?

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the AHDB publish UK livestock slaughter, hatchery and animal feed figures on a monthly basis, with series available since 1973.

Which types of livestock are included in the slaughter figures?

The data covers prime cattle, calves, steers, heifers, cows, sheep and lambs, ewes and rams, clean pigs, sows and boars, as well as broilers and broiler breeders.

What units are used for UK meat and feed production?

UK livestock slaughter numbers are reported in thousand head or million birds, meat production and feed volumes in thousand tonnes, and average carcase weights in kg per head.

UK livestock: slaughter, meat and feed

Name: UK livestock: slaughter, meat and feed
Creator: GOV.UK official statistics; Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

The monthly supply chain of UK livestock farming: cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry slaughtered and the meat produced, by nation (Defra); eggs set in hatcheries for broilers, breeders, layers and turkeys, the leading indicator of poultry meat and egg output; and the compound feed mills produce for each kind of livestock, with the wheat, barley, soya and other raw materials they use.

Source: GOV.UK official statistics; Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)Last updated: Sep 28, 2026, 05:13Curated by Bui Thanh PhucAbout this data ↓

Indicator	08-2026	07-2026	06-2026	05-2026	04-2026	03-2026	02-2026	01-2026	12-2025	11-2025	10-2025	09-2025	08-2025	07-2025	06-2025	05-2025	04-2025	03-2025	02-2025	01-2025	12-2024	11-2024	10-2024	09-2024	08-2024	07-2024	06-2024	05-2024	04-2024	03-2024	02-2024	01-2024	12-2023	11-2023	10-2023	09-2023	08-2023
Slaughterings and meat production (Defra)7
Slaughterings12
Prime cattle	160.31	163.74	159.85	166.79	166.94	174.75	162.84	163.88	157.93	168.91	179.93	171.17	155.47	161.83	163.38	178.03	170.59	169.64	164.59	169.63	157.54	176.57	196.01	174.89	165.56	175.87	168.73	183.93	179.69	173.38	175.09	174.42	150.92	181.38	180.68	162.99	163.29
Steers	76.69	76.3	75.87	82.17	83.66	89.09	81.51	81.07	79.61	84.32	90.38	85.13	75.03	77.11	78.02	87.68	85.59	85.89	82.64	84.89	79.49	88.34	100.47	89.34	80.8	84.74	82.24	92.2	92.13	88.35	89.56	88.68	77.46	92.87	93.66	84.09	80.26
Heifers	61.81	63.08	62.62	67.17	69.87	73.82	70.05	70.81	66.69	70.83	73.87	68.46	60.29	62.8	64.5	72.76	72.31	73	71.39	72.95	67.62	74.64	80.09	69.38	64.77	67.12	65.35	73.74	73.83	72.87	74.09	73.5	62.73	74.22	72.24	63.34	62.74
Young bulls	21.81	24.36	21.37	17.45	13.41	11.84	11.28	11.99	11.63	13.76	15.68	17.58	20.15	21.92	20.86	17.59	12.69	10.76	10.55	11.79	10.43	13.59	15.44	16.18	19.99	24.01	21.15	18	13.73	12.16	11.44	12.25	10.73	14.29	14.78	15.56	20.29
Calves	4.85	3.74	4.56	6.12	6.92	8.11	5.3	5.14	4.14	6.85	8.04	6.17	5.21	4.42	5.22	7.17	7.4	8.43	5.68	5.67	4.99	7.88	9.7	7.53	6.3	5.23	5.68	8.12	8.1	10.17	7.58	6.64	5.37	8.75	10.44	8.77	7.44
Cows	44.34	44.46	40.54	37.92	42.82	45.37	47.37	53.41	53.5	60.21	62.71	54.41	43	44.37	41.63	41.61	44.26	45.23	49.13	54.31	51.15	61.64	67.67	52.77	47.4	47.54	44.13	43.64	46.88	46.98	51.79	57.21	49.5	64.03	63.94	48.92	47.36
Adult cattle	46.21	46.25	42.38	39.57	44.4	47	48.77	54.86	54.79	61.95	64.74	56.43	44.9	46.15	43.4	43.49	45.97	46.95	50.79	55.84	52.54	63.61	69.93	54.82	49.43	49.49	46.02	45.55	48.5	48.57	53.57	58.7	50.84	65.76	66.12	50.81	49.51
Sheep and lambs	824.33	851.7	769.67	931.5	852.19	1,081.86	950.71	878.23	1,157.04	953.16	1,045.06	975.62	886	899.13	953.93	903.91	962.3	976.91	877.85	905.89	1,116.74	1,024.21	1,079.11	954.01	936	883.78	885.06	823.88	828.6	988.12	910.47	984.97	1,142.99	1,133.17	1,106.26	1,000.4	1,016.77
Ewes and rams	110.68	104.17	104.61	109.01	91.12	111.22	109.42	101.43	112.65	101.58	127.03	140.32	116.18	109.27	125.26	107.35	103.3	101.43	106.99	109.44	117.81	103.95	134.43	140.57	129.67	118.34	122.37	109.13	98.08	113.74	120.43	128.95	130.04	129.06	144.31	146.15	149.52
Clean pigs	843.77	909.14	890.69	852.75	891.71	927.12	843.96	871.96	872.52	868.1	950.28	899.84	825.94	859.2	847.37	856.24	863.4	858.03	825.39	899.92	851.99	879.07	927.84	857.73	872.08	887.61	823.53	846.85	851.66	808.25	817.31	828.23	771.14	896.05	887.28	812.6	876.86
Sows and boars	17.77	19.3	17.88	17.46	18.52	16.74	17.48	17.68	15.97	16.97	18.16	16.62	14.73	17.15	15.74	16.59	15.99	15.84	16.06	18.1	12.99	16.67	19.76	17.57	16.55	17.42	20.25	14.93	17.43	16.31	18.4	20.7	17.09	20.47	19.19	17.67	17.67
Adult bulls	1.87	1.79	1.84	1.65	1.58	1.62	1.4	1.45	1.3	1.74	2.03	2.02	1.9	1.79	1.77	1.88	1.71	1.72	1.66	1.53	1.39	1.97	2.26	2.04	2.03	1.95	1.89	1.91	1.62	1.59	1.78	1.49	1.34	1.74	2.18	1.89	2.15
Meat production3
Beef and veal	72	73.33	70.8	72.5	73.99	77.35	73.45	75.75	72.27	78.38	83.21	77.5	68.86	70.99	70.36	76.27	73.75	73.56	73.1	76.21	70.07	79.89	88.51	77.07	72.85	76.92	73.02	78.32	76.95	75.68	78.14	78.9	67.26	82.26	82.13	71.63	71.33
Mutton and lamb	19.89	20.33	19.06	23.07	21.24	26.25	22.74	21.4	27.17	22.07	24.41	23.04	20.72	20.85	23.01	22.03	23.53	23.44	20.69	21.31	25.05	23.02	24.78	22.28	21.81	18.77	21.14	20.15	20.35	23.74	21.7	23.34	25.76	25.55	25.24	22.86	23.96
Pigmeat	78.91	83.45	82.91	81.31	86.37	89.32	82.2	85.32	82.55	82.84	90.18	84.2	76.02	79.48	78.7	80.07	80.31	80.61	78.15	85.2	77.39	81.76	86.63	79.78	80.48	82.16	76.96	78.35	79.44	75.51	76.59	78.03	70.98	83.73	82.69	75.55	80.85
Average dressed carcase weight11
Prime cattle	356.38	356.75	355.3	356.55	355.92	353.94	353.56	353.54	348.68	347.45	347.54	348.02	349.92	347.7	344.73	347.61	345.91	343.99	343.75	342.46	339.9	338.06	339.91	342.36	344.13	346.39	345.08	344.58	341.88	344.6	345.31	342.71	340.48	338.44	339.2	339.86	340.69
Steers	369.24	370.4	370.05	371.99	371.85	370.24	369.37	369.48	363.02	362.25	360.79	361.89	363.21	361.49	357.07	361.32	362.38	361.02	360.66	358.05	354.91	353.71	353.45	356.49	356.83	359.03	359.85	359.78	356.75	361.38	361.03	358.17	354.69	352.17	353.02	353.31	356.26
Heifers	334.1	333.95	333.58	335.31	335.68	333.41	333.78	333.56	329.52	327.64	326.88	327.53	327.4	325.13	324.73	328.6	324.88	323.75	323.42	323.04	320.28	317.36	319.52	320.59	322.41	323.72	322	322.65	322.33	323.98	325.35	324.1	321.63	318.73	318.87	319.07	316.05
Young bulls	374.3	373.02	366.54	365.57	362.09	359.3	362.19	363.71	360.33	358.7	368.5	360.62	367.86	363.88	360.4	357.89	354.65	345.37	348.74	350.48	352.71	350.09	357.58	357.73	363.14	365.12	359	356.58	347.21	346.18	351.5	342.42	348.15	351.48	351.03	352.35	355.44
Calves	107.63	112.98	111.22	107.69	80.96	82.47	85.15	104.08	108.99	94.7	88.39	89.77	111.45	130.56	106.64	95.5	64.78	59.61	69.98	105.27	74.28	82.77	80.12	59.06	102.44	108.3	97.86	77.16	61.39	57.15	76.35	88.8	84.64	109.43	64.81	70.33	88.37
Cows	302.79	306.77	311.27	305.87	309.42	309.56	310.83	310.4	301.29	302.43	302.52	301.59	302.12	300.41	304.89	307.87	304.05	307.16	311.94	309.21	302.78	301.87	295.83	298.46	300.98	305.7	302.86	307.62	303.82	310.27	314.07	311.6	299.11	297.45	299.69	297.2	297.09
Sheep and lambs	20.29	20.23	20.57	21.26	21.62	21.29	21	21.07	20.86	20.41	20.45	20.11	19.99	19.84	20.53	21	21.47	21.22	20.37	20.19	19.59	19.88	19.83	19.63	19.66	17.53	19.93	20.64	21.08	20.66	20.3	20.14	19.43	19.64	19.51	19.66	19.56
Ewes and rams	28.61	29.76	30.86	29.92	30.89	28.93	25.33	28.48	26.88	25.82	23.91	24.32	25.89	27.59	27.35	28.44	27.76	26.75	26.24	27.56	26.89	25.59	25.21	25.29	26.26	27.75	28.58	28.77	29.38	29.18	26.71	27.1	27.36	25.6	25.33	21.79	27.09
Clean pigs	89.94	88.54	90.01	92.22	93.64	93.64	94.26	94.73	91.78	92.4	91.91	90.67	89.24	89.37	89.98	90.51	90.14	91.1	91.67	91.58	88.5	90.1	90.09	89.85	89.43	89.65	89.71	89.78	90.16	90.38	90.53	90.67	88.95	90.22	90.19	89.84	89.31
Sows and boars	170.34	153.28	153.26	153.32	154.83	149.95	151.85	154.2	154.29	155.01	156.23	156.79	156.53	157.08	155.94	155.2	155.17	154.61	154.36	153.88	153.67	153.35	153.58	154.85	150.79	148.29	152.46	155.53	151.93	151.01	140.87	141.92	139.73	145.52	138.9	143.68	141.96
Adult bulls	494.8	478.83	477.37	470.16	485.47	485.57	500.5	482.91	487.58	478.3	490.96	477.02	464.47	457.68	446.78	473.95	471.84	470.14	482.27	476.25	474.2	475.54	482.17	486.01	472.79	461.57	460.2	468.36	478.28	486.37	468.06	474.21	463.78	474.19	458.65	502.51	474.23
Slaughterings — England and Wales10
Prime cattle	105.81	113.83	105.73	105.25	110.06	113.83	107.14	107.16	105.97	110.17	119.4	114.9	103.05	111.87	106.07	113.76	109.54	106.36	106.49	112.21	98.75	111.92	126.15	112.65	107.47	119.62	111.14	121.7	119.28	111.39	114.88	116.09	94.24	122.61	117.64	105.77	107.12
Steers	51.72	54.7	50.96	52.54	55.86	58.04	54.19	53.42	53.51	55.08	59.86	57.22	50.58	54.63	51.5	56.9	56.01	54.67	54.18	56.58	50.14	55.99	64.45	57.19	53.3	59.32	54.83	61.68	61.98	57.8	59.45	59.94	49.18	63.07	60.77	54.27	53.95
Heifers	41.72	44.73	42.16	42.79	45.85	48.44	46.06	45.93	44.76	46.14	48.94	46.18	40.52	43.38	41.84	45.72	44.92	44.63	45.29	47.41	41.48	46.49	50.68	44.34	41.78	45.54	42.98	47.91	47.78	45.92	47.79	47.73	38.21	49.41	46.55	41.24	40.93
Young bulls	12.37	14.4	12.62	9.92	8.35	7.35	6.89	7.81	7.7	8.96	10.61	11.5	11.95	13.86	12.73	11.15	8.61	7.06	7.02	8.23	7.14	9.44	11.01	11.12	12.39	14.76	13.32	12.11	9.52	7.67	7.65	8.42	6.85	10.12	10.32	10.25	12.24
Calves	4.26	3.34	4.12	5.62	6.48	7.62	4.79	4.75	3.7	6.33	7.52	5.6	4.73	4.03	4.73	6.68	7	8	5.28	5.26	4.5	7.34	9.18	7.03	5.8	4.82	5.28	7.62	7.66	9.68	7.08	6.18	4.82	8.26	9.93	8.28	6.94
Adult cattle	32.66	35.22	30.38	27.73	32.31	33.81	35.54	39.57	40.32	43.49	46.76	41.38	31.58	33.97	29.69	30.16	32.28	31.31	34.96	40.52	37.54	44.06	50.56	37.88	32.9	34.88	32.18	32.3	34.34	33.66	37.88	42.4	34.29	48.01	47.14	35.14	33.85
Sheep and lambs	723.58	757.25	686.33	828.71	750.27	950.04	828.29	760.04	1,042.06	823.79	916.93	859.47	773.31	804.66	858.52	810.75	867.52	863.11	777.66	799.94	1,003.39	891.12	946.43	828.57	820.68	788.44	802.17	738.46	739.63	865.31	797.07	859.12	1,003.83	1,002.14	970.32	868.18	893.7
Ewes and rams	107.16	101.09	100.55	104.81	87.94	107.87	105.49	97.44	109.29	96.68	122.24	135.4	111.9	106.29	120.63	101.69	99.59	97.58	102.69	105.86	114.36	100.14	130.2	133.67	123.96	112.49	117.93	104.02	94.57	109.59	116.48	124.87	125.94	124.83	140.06	141.32	145.43
Clean pigs	670.25	729.85	704.94	671.14	714.07	748.79	674.78	689.3	708.07	676.28	756.51	711.34	644.02	683.41	661.96	673.32	688.43	671.96	646.12	713.85	657.07	690.79	736.64	675.34	687.46	716.56	644.05	678.94	684.24	642.04	651.27	653.72	587.12	724.7	708.19	642.51	701.62
Sows and boars	15.14	16.29	16.18	15.85	16.59	14.57	15.5	15.73	14.82	15.45	16.82	15.3	13.36	15.69	14.34	15.09	14.57	14.32	14.9	16.67	11.96	15.32	18.15	15.94	14.89	15.99	18.99	13.58	15.96	14.87	16.8	19.04	15.17	18.56	17.73	16.21	16.37
Slaughterings — Scotland10
Prime cattle	26.01	26.81	26.57	28	27.17	29.42	26.35	27.38	23.53	27.38	28.71	26.05	24.69	25.82	25.53	29	28.51	29.89	27.98	27.39	28.15	28.78	31.17	27.82	27.93	28.83	28.26	29.12	27.71	29.96	28.47	28.31	27.99	28.62	30.44	28.61	27.71
Steers	13.11	12.29	13.25	14.53	14.64	16.54	13.87	14.67	13.07	14.64	15.19	13.7	12.47	12.39	12.69	14.98	14.84	16.06	14.72	14.46	14.98	15.47	16.08	14.95	13.99	13.81	14.3	14.89	14.74	15.94	14.89	14.88	14.79	14.84	16.03	15.18	13.23
Heifers	9.33	9.79	9.55	11.01	11.42	12	11.72	11.84	9.54	11.56	12.15	10.53	9.22	9.61	9.46	11.88	12.71	13.11	12.53	12.18	12.36	12.25	13.91	11.32	10.86	10.6	10.23	11.93	11.82	13.14	12.76	12.61	12.22	12.63	13.16	11.54	11.03
Young bulls	3.57	4.73	3.77	2.46	1.11	0.89	0.76	0.87	0.93	1.17	1.38	1.81	3	3.82	3.38	2.14	0.95	0.72	0.73	0.75	0.81	1.06	1.18	1.55	3.08	4.42	3.73	2.31	1.16	0.87	0.82	0.82	0.99	1.15	1.25	1.88	3.45
Calves	0	0	0	0.01	0.01	0	0	0.01	0.01	0.01	0	0	0.01	0.01	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adult cattle	4.03	3.95	3.89	3.68	3.95	4.34	4.8	4.85	4.44	6.34	6.22	5.32	4.55	4.37	4.43	4.56	4.59	5.27	5.64	5.15	5.44	6.38	6.51	6.08	5.37	4.65	4.59	4.45	4.63	5.21	5.41	5.55	4.68	5.98	6.89	5.49	5.21
Sheep and lambs	63.59	63.78	54.54	71.62	77.05	93.99	82.9	81.71	78.6	94.89	92.4	81.91	75.5	63.92	63.73	64.86	69.36	85.65	74.06	80.07	84.08	92	87.79	78.95	72.2	57.21	56.6	60.73	65.59	87.72	79.28	86.93	95.4	92.75	89.25	84.38	77.28
Ewes and rams	1.86	1.92	2.94	2.72	2.04	1.68	1.64	1.57	1.45	1.85	1.71	1.79	1.82	1.68	2.62	3.14	1.87	1.82	1.41	1.57	1.53	1.6	1.75	3.82	4	3.46	2.82	3.24	2	2.24	1.84	1.71	1.8	1.83	1.83	2.02	1.86
Clean pigs	20.66	23.1	23.18	22.76	20.57	18.94	13.97	14.73	13.82	19.01	19.18	19.47	19.51	18.85	18.4	19.34	17.63	18.37	18.24	19.35	20.9	20.01	19.8	18.88	18.47	17.79	18.02	17.74	17.02	17.9	17.7	18	17.07	18.87	17.83	15.36	16.19
Sows and boars	2.63	3.02	1.7	1.61	1.94	2.17	1.99	1.95	1.15	1.53	1.35	1.32	1.37	1.46	1.4	1.5	1.41	1.52	1.16	1.43	1.03	1.35	1.62	1.64	1.66	1.43	1.27	1.35	1.48	1.44	1.6	1.66	1.93	1.91	1.46	1.46	1.3
Slaughterings — Northern Ireland10
Prime cattle	28.48	23.1	27.54	33.54	29.71	31.49	29.35	29.34	28.42	31.36	31.82	30.23	27.73	24.14	31.77	35.27	32.53	33.39	30.12	30.03	30.64	35.88	38.69	34.43	30.15	27.43	29.34	33.11	32.7	32.04	31.74	30.02	28.69	30.15	32.6	28.68	28.4
Steers	11.86	9.31	11.66	15.1	13.16	14.52	13.45	12.99	13.03	14.61	15.33	14.22	11.98	10.09	13.83	15.8	14.75	15.16	13.75	13.85	14.37	16.88	19.94	17.2	13.51	11.61	13.11	15.63	15.41	14.61	15.21	13.85	13.5	14.96	16.86	14.63	13.02
Heifers	10.76	8.56	10.91	13.37	12.6	13.37	12.27	13.04	12.39	13.12	12.79	11.75	10.56	9.81	13.2	15.17	14.67	15.25	13.57	13.36	13.79	15.9	15.5	13.72	12.13	10.98	12.13	13.9	14.23	13.81	13.55	13.16	12.3	12.18	12.53	10.82	10.81
Young bulls	5.86	5.22	4.97	5.08	3.95	3.6	3.63	3.31	3	3.63	3.7	4.26	5.2	4.24	4.74	4.31	3.12	2.98	2.8	2.82	2.48	3.09	3.25	3.51	4.52	4.83	4.1	3.58	3.06	3.62	2.98	3.01	2.89	3.01	3.21	3.24	4.57
Calves	0.59	0.4	0.44	0.5	0.44	0.49	0.5	0.38	0.43	0.52	0.52	0.56	0.47	0.38	0.49	0.49	0.4	0.42	0.4	0.4	0.49	0.54	0.52	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.51	0.44	0.48	0.5	0.46	0.55	0.49	0.51	0.45	0.53
Adult cattle	9.52	7.08	8.11	8.16	8.14	8.85	8.43	10.44	10.02	12.12	11.76	9.73	8.77	7.81	9.28	8.77	9.09	10.36	10.19	10.17	9.57	13.17	12.85	10.86	11.15	9.96	9.25	8.8	9.53	9.7	10.29	10.75	11.86	11.77	12.09	10.54	10.37
Sheep and lambs	37.16	30.67	28.8	31.18	24.86	37.84	39.52	36.48	36.39	34.49	35.73	34.24	37.19	30.55	31.68	28.29	25.43	28.14	26.13	25.88	29.27	41.09	44.89	46.5	43.12	38.12	26.28	24.69	23.37	35.09	34.11	38.93	43.76	38.29	46.69	48.36	46.72
Ewes and rams	1.66	1.16	1.11	1.48	1.13	1.68	2.3	2.42	1.9	3.05	3.08	3.13	2.46	1.3	2.01	2.51	1.84	2.02	2.89	2.01	1.92	2.2	2.49	3.07	1.71	2.39	1.63	1.87	1.51	1.91	2.11	2.37	2.3	2.4	2.42	2.74	2.28
Clean pigs	152.86	156.19	162.58	158.85	157.07	159.39	155.21	167.93	150.63	172.81	174.59	169.02	162.42	156.94	167.01	163.58	157.33	167.7	161.02	166.72	174.02	168.27	171.4	163.51	166.15	153.25	161.45	150.17	150.4	148.31	148.34	156.51	166.94	152.47	161.26	154.81	159.42
Sows and boars	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Birds slaughtered3
Broilers, UK	92.85	99.48	95.12	94.55	96.22	96.14	87.2	95.81	92.52	89.79	98.81	95.6	92.46	99.13	91.72	95.64	94.29	93	87.71	99.15	86.45	91.41	99.39	95.28	94.1	98.89	91.86	98.1	94.81	94.65	89.99	96.71	78.79	89.89	108.22	89.53	89.15
Boiling fowl, UK	2.29	2.88	2.3	2.37	2.32	2.02	2.18	2.59	2.48	1.9	2.67	2.96	2.12	2.49	2.6	2.96	2.41	2.53	2.2	2.58	2	2.05	2.25	1.82	1.95	1.85	2.43	2.31	2.18	1.39	1.73	2.69	2.75	3.07	3.36	3.3	3.26
Turkeys, UK	0.64	0.67	0.7	0.6	0.58	0.53	0.5	0.49	0.84	1.36	0.5	0.56	0.65	0.59	0.43	0.47	0.44	0.44	0.42	0.48	1.21	1.73	0.64	0.62	0.64	0.65	0.55	0.6	0.59	0.54	0.58	0.69	1.13	1.84	0.92	0.57	0.64
Eggs set in hatcheries (Defra)2
Chicken eggs set3
Commercial broilers, UK	114.74	118.79	113.23	117.5	111.32	119.58	108.61	118.25	117.03	116.4	110.88	111.86	115.09	116.37	112.14	114.61	112.41	117.94	105.94	116.01	117.75	107.91	108.48	108.71	110.72	112.93	107.03	118.07	125.28	115.67	109.7	113.23	111.28	104.1	104.58	108.08	115.05
Broiler breeders	6.06	6.78	6.35	5.91	6.27	6.3	5.52	5.55	5.61	5.28	5.55	6.57	6.82	6.08	6.67	6.37	6.34	6.83	5.78	6.43	5.96	5.88	5.77	6.81	5.88	5.93	6.62	5.7	6.03	6.31	5	6.24	6.43	5.98	6.73	6.54	5.94
Commercial layers	9.19	10.43	10.41	10.39	8.15	9.29	10.03	10.06	7.83	9.63	9.12	10.11	7.83	8.45	9.67	9.84	8.49	8.41	8.8	9.16	7.95	9.31	8.6	9.94	9.13	8.11	9	9.53	8.07	8.3	9.2	9.18	7.12	7.57	9.37	10.65	8.17
Turkeys	0.8	1.7	1.94	2.01	0.88	0.77	0.65	0.78	0.78	0.62	0.81	1	1.03	1.07	1.57	1.47	0.89	0.71	0.65	0.66	0.75	0.85	0.85	0.88	1.39	1.39	1.54	1.63	0.88	0.94	0.73	0.82	0.81	0.74	0.82	0.87	1.71
Animal feed production and raw materials (Defra)3
All feedingstuffs2		829.4	913.2	790.3	864.3	1,060.5	870.1	921.9	1,060.4	907.3	920.7	1,049.9	877	887	1,004.3	862.7	914.5	1,130.9	935.1	975.7	1,064.8	916.8	919.2	992.7	838.5	849.2	972.6	846.4	907.8	1,071.4	890.4	1,004.4	1,041.6	908.2	880.4	958.2	842.5
Compounds, blends and concentrates		812	896.9	774	846	1,040.5	849.8	901	1,039.4	887.4	899.6	1,027.1	857.9	867.2	983.9	845.3	896.9	1,109.7	916.3	956.5	1,046.5	897.8	901.5	974.1	824.1	834	956.9	831.8	891.1	1,051.7	871.6	985.4	1,023	891.5	865.8	943.7	828.6
Straights		17.3	16.4	16.3	18.3	20	20.3	20.9	21	20	21.2	22.8	19.1	19.8	20.4	17.4	17.6	21.2	18.7	19.2	18.4	19	17.7	18.6	14.4	15.2	15.7	14.6	16.8	19.7	18.8	19	18.6	16.7	14.5	14.4	13.8
Compound feed by type of livestock7
Cattle and calf feed, total6		311.8	329.1	299.3	341.1	409.1	350	384.9	444.6	376.9	376.9	395.6	329.9	328.5	347.6	324.5	351.5	412.6	350.3	376.3	418.7	365	363.2	348.7	301.1	293.7	318.9	306.2	333.9	378.1	331.7	372.8	395.7	351.1	333.6	327.9	297.9
Calf feed, total		14.4	15.6	14	16	19.4	15.8	18.3	20.3	16.8	16.4	17.6	15.1	13.5	15.2	13.2	15.6	18.3	15.8	16.3	20	17.1	17.8	16.9	13.2	13	12.8	12.2	14.9	16.7	14.9	16.5	19.4	17	15.7	15.4	13.1
Dairy cow compounds		163.9	176.2	160.3	175.2	196.2	165.5	176.7	208.4	184.6	189.5	197.8	170.1	174.7	189	175.9	179.2	195.6	162.6	175.4	200.2	178.8	183	179.6	163.8	160	177.8	171.3	175.5	191.3	164.5	183	192.9	177.2	174.7	179.9	166.3
Dairy cow blends		56.1	57.2	50.7	62.2	79.5	70	79	90.4	74.6	71.7	75.8	63	62.9	65.2	63.1	71.8	89.8	78.1	83.2	90.9	76	73.4	69.6	58.7	56.4	61.4	56.8	66.8	78.5	69.9	78.2	82.1	71.1	66.1	61.8	57.2
Other cattle compounds		42.7	43.5	40	47.6	63.2	53.5	60.1	69.4	55.3	53.5	58.8	45.2	41.5	42.5	38	47.7	61.3	52.3	56.5	60.3	52.5	49.3	47	36.1	34.7	36.6	34.2	41.8	51.2	46.7	53.7	57.8	49.5	43.3	40.9	33.8
Other cattle blends		27.5	29	26.5	31.4	39.4	35.1	38.1	43.6	36.1	35.8	36.3	29.2	28.8	28.9	27.6	30.2	38.1	32.8	35	38.3	32.6	31.6	28.2	22.9	23.5	23.7	24.8	27.8	31.6	27.7	32.8	34.5	29.5	25.9	23.4	21.9
Cattle protein concentrates		7.2	7.8	7.8	8.7	11.4	10.1	12.6	12.4	9.6	9.9	9.3	7.2	7	6.8	6.6	7.1	9.4	8.7	9.9	8.9	8	8.2	7.3	6.4	6.1	6.5	6.9	7.2	8.7	8	8.7	9	6.7	7.8	6.5	5.7
Pig feed, total6		112.2	133.1	112	117.3	141.5	111.8	115.4	171.1	141.2	143.1	167.6	139.5	137.7	170.6	136.1	139.3	170.7	142	150.5	178.9	146.3	150.1	172.2	141.1	140.2	169.1	140.8	144	167.4	138.6	164.4	185.6	158	154.8	176.2	148
Pig starters and creep feed		1.8	2	1.7	1.8	2.1	2.2	1.6	2.1	1.8	1.7	2.3	1.8	1.9	1.8	1.8	2.5	2	1.6	1.7	2.5	3.8	3.9	3.7	2.7	3	2.9	2.4	2.6	2.7	2.1	2.5	2.7	2.5	2.2	2.9	2.7
Pig link and early grower feed		4.6	5.8	4.8	4.8	5.7	4.9	4.8	7.3	5.9	6.6	7.5	6.3	6.9	8.1	7.3	7.1	7.1	6.2	6.3	6.3	4.7	5.1	5.1	4.7	4.6	6	5.2	5.5	5.7	4.3	5.3	6.3	5.3	5	6.1	4.7
Pig growing compounds		21.8	25.2	21.5	23.6	25.4	21.5	22	31.4	25.9	24.6	30.7	25.7	23.9	29.8	23.9	23.8	28.5	24.4	26.2	31.7	26.9	27	31.1	26.6	26.8	31.6	27.5	26	27.6	25.5	29.3	32.7	28.8	27.8	30.4	26.5
Pig finishing compounds		55.7	66.7	54.4	57.5	73.3	54.6	56.9	93.3	77.7	80.6	93.1	75.3	77.4	95.1	73.9	75.9	95.3	79.3	84.4	100.4	79.6	83.1	97.6	80.1	78.1	95.1	77.6	79.7	94.1	75	90.4	102.5	87.9	87.5	100.7	82.9
Pig breeding compounds		27.8	33.1	29.4	29.3	34.6	28.4	29.9	36.7	29.5	29.4	33.7	30.2	27.4	35.5	28.9	29.7	37.5	30.3	31.7	37.6	31.2	30.8	34.3	26.8	27.4	33.2	27.9	30.1	37.1	31.5	36.5	40.9	33.2	32.3	36	31
Pig protein concentrates		0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.1	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1
Poultry feed, total7		297.3	340.9	276.2	267.2	308.9	248.1	259.7	306.2	266.5	279.7	347.5	296.6	309.9	371.3	295.7	284.1	334.3	274.7	286.2	333.6	286.5	294.6	359.2	306.9	323.7	383.2	302.1	290.5	336.8	266.3	311.7	331.9	294	297.9	362.5	310.1
Chick rearing compounds		9.5	10.3	9.3	8.7	11.4	9	10	11.6	8.4	9.2	10.9	9.5	8.4	10.6	9.1	9.3	10.3	8.5	9.1	10.9	8.5	8.2	9.9	8.4	7.8	10.4	9.9	9.2	10.4	8.3	11.3	11.8	8.6	8.6	11	10.2
Layers compounds		76.9	92.7	77.1	79.2	92.7	75.2	78.5	97.5	79.7	79.3	92	78.7	78.6	93.3	80.1	79.9	94.4	78.5	83.5	98.3	84.5	85.2	97.2	82	83.2	97.8	84.6	85.9	98.9	78.4	87.5	96.7	84.1	81.1	93	78.9
Broiler chicken compounds		134.8	162.3	135.7	133.4	156.2	127.9	135.1	155.4	135.8	142.7	183.1	146.5	147.7	190.9	151.8	151.6	185.7	152.2	156.1	178.1	146.8	150.2	192.1	148.8	151.1	193.9	151.7	149.6	180.5	143.4	171.7	176.8	152.8	156.7	195.4	149.6
Poultry breeding and rearing compounds		21.9	26.9	22.4	22.5	29.5	23.8	24.9	28	23	23.7	29.5	23.1	24.4	30.1	24.4	23.5	28.5	23.6	24.9	29.4	23.7	22.8	28.1	23.6	24.2	28.7	22.6	22.8	27.6	21.7	26.9	29	25	23.9	28.4	23.6
Turkey compounds		9	7.4	7.1	7.1	6.1	4.9	4.2	4.6	10.4	14.5	13	8.6	6.9	5.6	4.6	3.5	3.6	3.5	4.1	6.5	13.9	16.7	13.3	11.2	8.2	6.8	7.6	5.4	5.4	5.9	6	7.2	14.5	17.7	17.3	13
Other poultry compounds		45	41	24.4	16.3	12.8	7	6.6				18.5			40.4		15.9	11.6	8.2	8.3		9
Poultry protein concentrates		0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.3				0.5			0.5		0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2		0.1
Sheep feed, total5		49.1	47.9	46	80.2	135.5	103.4	98	75.5	59.7	58	66.7	52.5	46.7	51.2	49.2	83.9	145.5	113.1	100.6	72.8	58.9	49.7	48.1	36.8	36	45.4	46.4	85.5	130.8	101.6	96	66.6	48.9	37.8	34	31.5
Breeding sheep compounds		3.7	3.5	6.1	30.6	74.5	52.5	38.1	14.2	6.7	4.6	4.3	3.6	3.1	3.7	6.3	31.6	76.6	53.5	36.5	12.9	7.1	5.2	3.5	2.7	2.4	3.2	5.2	34.7	71.2	52.2	38.4	14	7.5	4.4	2.8	2.4
Breeding sheep blends		1.3	1.2	1.1	1.7	3.6	3	3.2	2.1	1.4	1.5	2	1.6	1.3	1.2	1	1.8	4.3	3.7	3	1.9	1.3	1.1	1.4	1.1	1	1	0.8	2.1	4.7	3.7	3.5	2.3	1	1.1	1.2	1.2
Growing and finishing sheep compounds		36.5	36.1	33	40.9	48.2	40.8	48.3	50	43.4	42.8	48.7	37.2	33.9	37.5	34.7	43.4	55.9	47.7	52.4	47.4	41	34.8	34.2	26	26.4	34.5	33.9	42.1	48.4	39.6	46.9	41.9	33.2	26.1	23.3	21.5
Growing and finishing sheep blends		7.4	6.8	5.7	6.4	8.3	6.4	7.8	8.6	7.8	8.7	11.2	9.8	8.1	8.4	6.8	6.7	8	7.7	8.3	10.1	9.2	8.3	8.8	6.7	5.8	6.3	6	6	5.8	5.4	6.6	7.7	6.7	5.9	6.3	6
Sheep protein concentrates		0.2	0.3	0.1	0.5	0.8	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.4
Horse feed		13.5	15.6	14	16.2	20	17.5	19.3	20.7	16.8	16.1	19.1	12.7	15.5	16.4	15.1	16	21.1	17.7	20.3	19.8	16.7	16.6	17	12	13.8	15.4	14.2	17.3	18.6	17.4	20.8	20.6	17	15	16.5	13.5
Other compounds, blends and concentrates		28.2	30.4	26.4	24	25.6	19.1	23.8	21.3	26.3	25.8	30.7	26.8	28.8	26.9	24.7	22.2	25.6	18.6	22.6	22.7	24.4	27.4	29	26.3	26.7	25	22.1	19.8	19.9	16	19.7	22.6	22.5	26.8	26.5	27.7
Flaked maize and other maize products		1	1.3	1	1.3	1.6	1.9	2	1.8	1.6	1.5	2.1	1.5	1.5	1.8	1.4	1.4	1.7	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.6	1.3	2	1.3	1.3	1.7	1.2	1.4	1.7	1.6	1.8	1.6	1	1.2	1	0.9
All raw materials used, used in feed23		822.2	904.5	783.2	857.3	1,045.7	860.7	904.2	1,044.3	896	907.1	1,036.4	860	871.1	988.6	851.1	899.2	1,114.4	920.1	956.8	1,044.8	899.1	901.9	983.3	830	840.2	960.5	838.4	895.8	1,056.9	879.5	993.3	1,022.5	894.7	871.3	949.5	835.8
Wheat, used in feed		236	268.7	227.4	233.3	277.2	222.5	233.2	278	238.8	245.2	290.5	241.3	244.9	289.8	238.3	240.6	291.8	239.3	249.2	287.1	243.2	252	295.3	247.7	252.5	303.2	251	253.3	297.5	240.7	277.3	295.3	258.3	258.5	297.8	252.5
Barley, used in feed		92.4	100.9	85.4	94.2	117.5	97.9	102	126.8	107.2	107.1	118.9	94.4	94.2	108.7	92.2	102.5	129.4	106.5	109.9	120.6	101	99.2	107.9	89.6	88.5	98.9	87.9	98.8	118.9	99.5	112.1	116.2	98.8	95	104.5	92.1
Oats, used in feed		6.5	7	5.9	6.4	6.9	5.5	5.6	6.2	5.7	5.2	5	3.9	4.2	4.5	4.4	4.6	4.9	4.3	4.4	4.3	3.8	2.9	2.4	1.9	1.9	2.5	2.2	2.8	3.3	3.1	4.1	5.1	5.3	4.5	4.7	4.2
Whole and flaked maize, used in feed		28.8	31.6	27	31.6	39.1	33.9	34.8	40.5	35.9	36.9	41.1	34.7	36.3	42.4	35.7	39.2	49.4	42	43	47.8	41.4	38.9	38.7	31.9	31.7	33.3	28	29.4	35.6	27.5	31.8	32.8	29.3	29	29.9	25.9
Confectionery by-products, used in feed		13	13.9	12.8	14.4	16.7	13.8	14.5	18	15.8	15.8	17.8	15.2	14.9	16.7	15.6	16	18.7	16.1	17.3	18.7	16.6	16.2	17.1	15.1	15.1	16.9	15.5	17.1	19.4	16.9	19.1	19.7	17.3	16.1	17.5	15.7
Maize gluten feed, used in feed		6.2	7.2	6	8.4	11.1	8.9	9.5	9.6	8.3	7.5	8.1	6.5	6.4	7	5.9	8	11.3	9.1	9.6	9.7	8.5	7.5	7.2	5.3	4.7	5	4	4.6	5	4.2	5.2	4.3	3.9	3	3.6	2.9
Wheat feed, used in feed		75.1	77.9	68.6	75.7	93.7	78	79.6	88.6	74.5	76.7	89.5	76.6	77.6	84.9	75.9	81.7	98.7	84.9	86.7	96.5	84.7	81.5	84.8	72.7	75.1	83.7	73.6	81.8	94.5	81.3	89.2	91.5	79.4	75.7	79.6	73.7
Other cereal by-products, used in feed		13.9	15	13.1	14.6	21.2	16.4	20.8	20.4	17.4	17.3	20.3	16	16.2	18.4	16.8	17.4	25.8	18.9	23	21.4	16.9	17.8	19.4	14.6	15	18.1	15.8	15.8	21.1	15.8	22.4	20.1	16.8	15.6	16.7	14.1
Distillery by-products, used in feed		20.3	20.7	18.9	24.3	32.7	29	29.7	31.8	26.6	25.4	25.9	21.9	22	23.5	22.8	26.1	32.7	30.6	30.7	32.2	28.3	27.9	25.7	22.6	22.6	22.9	23.9	27.5	31.1	27.9	29.8	29.8	27.5	24.4	20.9	19.4
Whole oilseeds, used in feed		2.1	2.3	1.8	1.7	2.1	1.8	2	2	1.7	2.1	2.3	2.1	2.9	2.8	2.7	2	2.5	2	1.9	2	1.7	2	2.4	1.9	2	3.1	1.9	2.4	3.1	2.3	2.9	2.7	2.7	2.2	2.6	2.1
Oilseed rape cake and meal, used in feed		50.3	52.5	48.4	59.8	75.5	63.6	69.8	81.7	68.9	66.9	68.7	55.7	54.2	58	51.8	57.6	76.5	61.5	63.4	69.7	58.2	56.1	55.3	46.8	45	47.2	45.4	59.4	77.3	67	73	72.5	65.2	59.7	56.1	49.8
Soya cake and meal, used in feed		98.5	111.2	92.9	96.6	112.9	91.5	95	113.1	96.3	100.8	121.8	101.1	104.9	123.2	103.1	102.1	122.5	100.8	105.5	118.5	98.3	100.6	115.9	97.3	99.7	116.5	98.1	94.5	108.6	87.6	99.9	105	91.6	93	107.5	94.1
Sunflower cake and meal, used in feed		26.5	29.1	25.2	27.6	34.9	28.3	29.3	31.7	26	24.9	27.4	23.3	23.6	26.6	23.1	28.9	37.4	31.4	32.1	31.7	29.7	30.6	32	28.2	30.2	34.8	31	33	37.9	31.3	33.5	31.2	26.3	25	28.6	25.7
Other oilseed cake and meal, used in feed		20.5	22	20.9	26.5	32.6	27.1	28.2	31	27.8	28.2	32.2	26.3	25.1	27.7	24.5	28.7	36.7	29.6	30.2	30.5	27.2	26.8	28.1	23.8	24.4	26	25.2	29.2	35.3	30.3	35.6	35.6	30.7	30.4	31.1	28.1
Field beans, used in feed		6.9	9.8	7.6	8	9	7.6	8.3	8.8	7	6.9	8.6	7.7	7.2	8.2	7.3	7.7	9.6	7.4	7.2	7.2	6.4	6.8	7.5	5.1	7	8.9	8.5	11.1	15	12.7	15.7	15.8	13.6	13.7	14.9	13.1
Field peas, used in feed		3.2	1.6	1.5	1.1	1.2	0.9	1	1.2	1.6	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.4	1.6	1.3	1.2	1.5	1.2	1.7	1.3	1.3	1.7	2.1	3.3	1.6	1.6	1.4	1.8	2	2.1	2.1	2.2	1.8	1.9	1.6	1.6
Dried sugar beet pulp, used in feed		18.8	19.3	18.5	22.8	27.9	23.8	25	27.5	23.7	24.3	26.5	22.9	22.1	23.6	21.8	23.1	29.6	24.3	23.1	24.2	21.3	20.9	20.9	17.9	17.1	19.6	17.9	20.3	23.8	20.5	23.2	21.6	19.6	18.6	19.1	17
Molasses, used in feed		18.8	20.1	18.2	22.3	28.4	23.8	24.4	26.6	21.9	21.8	24.4	19.8	19.2	20.8	19.2	22.9	29.2	24.5	24.3	25.4	21.9	20.8	21.3	17.6	17.6	19.5	18.7	23.4	27.4	24.1	25.4	25.4	22.1	19.9	20.2	18.3
All meal (fish, poultry and other), used in feed		4.7	6.2	6	4.6	4.9	3.4		4.1		5.4				6.5	6.5	4.7	5.4	3.6	4.7	4.2				5.6	5.8	6.1	4.8	4.1	3.8	2.8	3.4	4.4	3.8		5.2	5.4
Minerals, used in feed		34.5	38.4	33.5	36.4	44.9	36.7	38.3	44.6	37.7	37.8	43.5	35.4	35.9	41.2	35.6	38	45.4	37.1	39.1	41.9	36.8	37.1	41.7	35.1	35.7	41.6	36.3	38.7	46.1	39.4	41.9	42.4	36.5	35.6	39.6	35.3
Oil and fat, used in feed		20.2	20.8	19.2	19.5	20.9	18.4	19.6	19.4	19.5	20.7	23.4	19.8	20.8	21.7	19.9	18.8	21.7	18	19.6	19.4	19.9	20.5	21.6	18.4	18.4	19.6	18.4	17.9	19.3	17.2	17.8	19.1	18.2	17.7	18.6	17.5
Protein concentrates, used in feed		1.8	2.1	1.7	1.2	1.8	1.3	1.5	1.8	1.3	1.3	2	1.6	1.5	1.9	1.3	1.3	1.7	1.4	1.5	1.3	0.8	0.9	1.1	0.9	0.9	1.1	0.9	0.9	1	0.9	1	1.2	1	0.8	1	1
Other materials, used in feed		23.1	26.1	22.7	26.2	32.4	26.6		30.6		27.4				28.8	25.2	26	31.7	25.5	28.4	29.2				26.3	27.5	30.2	27.7	27.9	29.5	24.3	26.6	28.3	25.1		28	26.2

Latest reading

Prime cattle stood at 160.31 Thousand head in Aug 2026. That is −2.1% from Jul 2026 and +3.1% from a year earlier. The series on this page is monthly and runs from Jan 1973 to Aug 2026. Source: GOV.UK official statistics; Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Latest: 160.31 Thousand head; Aug 2026
vs previous period: −2.1%; Jul 2026
vs a year earlier: +3.1%

About this data

Frequently asked questions

What do these UK livestock and feed statistics measure?: They track the UK livestock farming supply chain, covering animal slaughterings and meat production volumes, eggs set in commercial hatcheries, and compound animal feed production alongside raw feed materials.
How often is UK livestock and feed data updated?: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the AHDB publish UK livestock slaughter, hatchery and animal feed figures on a monthly basis, with series available since 1973.
Which types of livestock are included in the slaughter figures?: The data covers prime cattle, calves, steers, heifers, cows, sheep and lambs, ewes and rams, clean pigs, sows and boars, as well as broilers and broiler breeders.
What units are used for UK meat and feed production?: UK livestock slaughter numbers are reported in thousand head or million birds, meat production and feed volumes in thousand tonnes, and average carcase weights in kg per head.