Latest UK and Ireland Slaughter Statistics
UK figures supplied by Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Irish figures courtesy of Central Statistics Office of Ireland (CSO).
All figures expressed as ‘000 head
February 2009
Monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat in the United Kingdom are given in the table below. They are shown in statistical months.
Table 1: UK monthly slaughter estimates
December 2008 January 2009 February 2009
4 weeks 5 weeks 4 weeks
Steers 72 86 75
Heifers 59 80 68
Young Bulls 18 21 17
Cows and Adult Bulls 46 51 39
Calves 4 3 3
Other Sheep and Lambs 1294 1260 908
Ewes and Rams 210 207 168
Clean Pigs 693 816 669
Sows and Boars 14 19 16
Table 2: Irish Livestock Slaughterings
February 2009
Cattle Sheep Pigs
February 2008 134.5 175.7 226.0
February 2009 125.3 174.4 188.9
% change -6.8% -0.7% -16.4%
Jan-Feb 2009/2008 -12.0% -0.9% -12.4%
The number of cattle slaughtered in February 2009 was 6.8% lower than in February 2008.
A comparison of February 2009 and 2008 figures showed that:
- Sheep slaughterings decreased by 0.7%.
- Pig slaughterings decreased by 16.4%.
The number of cattle slaughterings in January-February 2009 was 12.0% lower than the corresponding 2008 figure. Over the same period there was a decrease of 0.9% in sheep slaughterings and a decrease of 12.4% in pig slaughterings.
Between the periods January to December 2007 and 2008, Poland, Denmark and Spain recorded decreases in pig slaughterings of 9.8%, 2.8% and 0.4% respectively. During the same period, Germany and the Netherlands recorded increases of 2.9% and 2.2% respectively.
