UK farm output price index: animals for slaughter
UK farm output price index: animals for slaughter stood at 145.25 in Jul 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Agricultural prices table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2014 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Agricultural prices table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Output price index | |||||||||||
| Animals for slaughter and export | 145.25 | 147.35 | 148.5 | 148.75 | 152.74 | 148.16 | 153.27 | 147.53 | 150.93 | 145.98 | |
| Barley, feed | 119.04 | 118.25 | 120.74 | 119.57 | 117.78 | 117.27 | 117.76 | 116.89 | 112.59 | 109.57 |
Understanding UK farm output price index: animals for slaughter
Meat animal transaction monitoring records the average farmgate and slaughterhouse acquisition returns for all livestock marketed for immediate slaughter or live export across the United Kingdom. The measure covers cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry destined for the food chain, combining diverse species into a unified red and white meat production benchmark. Breeding stock retained on farms and animals sold for non-meat purposes are omitted from these valuation calculations.
Interpreting monthly movements involves accounting for livestock finishing cycles, seasonal forage availability, and abattoir throughput capacity constraints. Early estimates are routinely revised as abattoir kill sheets, deadweight gradings, and export documentation are fully verified. Comparisons with retail meat price indices should be approached cautiously, as supermarket pricing reflects extensive butchery, packaging, and cold-chain distribution margins.
Frequently asked questions
- Are breeding animals included when culled from the herd?
- Culled breeding cows and ewes entering the food chain are captured here, but animals retained for herd expansion or milk production are excluded.
- Does live export pricing differ significantly from domestic slaughter pricing?
- Live export transactions reflect cross-border transport costs and continental demand dynamics, though they constitute a minor share of total livestock disposals.
- How do feed costs influence animals for slaughter pricing?
- High feed prices can prompt early marketing of unfinished stock, temporarily depressing volumes before supply tightening pushes market prices upward.