UK total poultry feed production
UK total poultry feed production stood at 297.3 thousand tonnes in Jul 2026, according to Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). It is one of the indicators in the Livestock, meat and feed table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2010 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Livestock, meat and feed table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poultry feed, total7 | 297.3 | 340.9 | 276.2 | 267.2 | 308.9 | 248.1 | 259.7 | 306.2 | 266.5 | 279.7 | |
| Chick rearing compounds | 9.5 | 10.3 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 11.4 | 9 | 10 | 11.6 | 8.4 | 9.2 | |
| Layers compounds | 76.9 | 92.7 | 77.1 | 79.2 | 92.7 | 75.2 | 78.5 | 97.5 | 79.7 | 79.3 |
Understanding UK total poultry feed production
Statutory feed mill returns record the aggregate monthly tonnage of manufactured compound feedingstuffs produced across Great Britain specifically for avian livestock categories. This aggregate encompasses rations blended for meat-producing birds, laying hens, breeding flocks, and game fowl, combining various grain meals, proteins, and additives into homogenous pellets or meals. Excluded from this specific metric are straight feedingstuffs, home-mixed rations prepared on individual holdings without commercial milling, and feed intended for non-avian livestock species such as cattle, pigs, or sheep.
Interpreting these figures requires accounting for seasonal shifts in bird stocking cycles and daylight regulation, which alter dietary requirements throughout the calendar year. Initial survey submissions frequently undergo retrospective adjustment once late-reporting mills verify their monthly outputs. Analysts should apply year-on-year comparisons rather than sequential monthly evaluations to isolate genuine structural adjustments from standard biological breeding rhythms. Comparing this aggregate directly against live animal slaughter statistics can reveal efficiency changes in feed conversion ratios over extended periods.
Frequently asked questions
- What categories of birds are covered under this production total?
- The metric aggregates output destined for broiler chickens, laying hens, breeding flocks, turkeys, and game birds across Great Britain.
- Does this series include feed mixed directly on farms?
- No, home-mixed rations prepared outside commercial compounding mills are excluded from statutory manufacturing returns.
- Why is a year-on-year comparison preferred over a month-on-month analysis?
- Avian production cycles follow predictable seasonal rhythms, making twelve-month comparisons more reliable for spotting structural demand shifts.