LMC: Fall in UK Meat Production

UK - Total meat production in the UK fell to 3.4 million tonnes from 3.5 million tonnes in 2007, a two per cent reduction, according to the latest figures produced by Defra.
calendar icon 9 February 2009
clock icon 1 minute read

Across all categories only mutton and lamb, and pork recorded an increase, but only very slightly, reports a Livestock Meat Commission weekly bulletin. The largest reduction was in poultry at three per cent (50,000 tonnes) followed closely by beef and veal at 20,000 tonnes (two per cent).

The decline in beef and veal production in 2008 was a direct result of a reduction in prime cattle slaughterings of 130,000 head to 2 million head in 2008 from 2.2 million head in 2007 (six per cent fall). Although prime cattle slaughterings were down, there was a 25 per cent increase in cow slaughterings to nearly 560,000 head. Throughout the UK cow beef accounted for 20 per cent of total beef and veal production in 2008 compared with 16 per cent in 2007. In Northern Ireland, a similar pattern exists with cows accounting for 19 per cent of total cattle slaughtered in 2008, but only 14 per cent in 2007.

Other Meats Poultry recorded the largest fall in production in value terms with 50,000 tonnes, three per cent, less being produced in 2008 than in 2007.

Pork, along with mutton and lamb, showed a marginal increase of one per cent with 613,000 tonnes of pork being produced in 2008. Bacon production fell by 15,000 tonnes in 2008 to 182,000 tonnes from 197,000 tonnes in 2007.

TheCattleSite News Desk

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.