UK steers slaughterings
UK steers slaughterings stood at 78.36 thousand head in Sep 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Livestock, meat and feed table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1973 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Livestock, meat and feed table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slaughterings | |||||||||||
| Steers | 78.36 | 77.09 | 76.3 | 75.87 | 82.17 | 83.66 | 89.09 | 81.51 | 81.07 | 79.61 | |
| Heifers | 63.95 | 62.27 | 63.08 | 62.62 | 67.17 | 69.87 | 73.82 | 70.05 | 70.81 | 66.69 |
Understanding UK steers slaughterings
Abattoir administrative records measure the monthly volume of steers processed within the United Kingdom livestock sector. This category counts castrated male cattle routed through commercial slaughterhouses for beef production, forming a major component of overall prime stock throughput. The measure excludes uncastrated males, females, and older breeding animals, isolating the specific growth and finishing trajectory of male beef cattle.
Monthly figures reflect farm-gate finishing schedules, winter housing transitions, and feedlot availability, which impart distinct seasonal patterns to the data. Initial estimates undergo standard administrative revisions as regional abattoir returns are reconciled. Analysts should evaluate annual changes rather than sequential monthly shifts to avoid misinterpreting routine farming calendars as permanent supply adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines a steer in these slaughter statistics?
- A steer is a castrated male bovine animal reared primarily for beef production.
- How do steer slaughterings differ from young bull counts?
- Steer figures cover castrated males, whereas young bull slaughterings capture uncastrated male cattle grown under different feeding regimes.
- Are these statistics subject to revision after initial publication?
- Yes, early estimates are routinely updated when late returns from commercial slaughterhouses are processed.