20 February 2009

1 minute read

Europe

Slaughter rates increased all round for cattle this month, with the exclusion of calves that fell from an estimated four thousand to three thousand head. However, these figures for the month of January were counted over a five week period by comparison with the average four. 88 thousand steers were slaughtered, 80 thousand heifers, 21 thousand young bulls and 51 thousand cows and adult bulls.

The surveys of slaughterhouses also collect information on the meat produced which enables average dressed carcase weights to be calculated. They revealed that the average carcase weight of steers increased from 350.9 kilogrammes in December to 357.9 kilogrammes in January.

Similarly, heifer weights increased to 312.4 kilogrammes. Young bull weights averaged almost ten per cent higher, whilst calves remained steady.

Information on meat produced is also collected. This enables the total quantity of meat produced in the United Kingdom to be calculated. 80 thousand tonnes of beef were produced this month.

The average monthly slaughterings are affected by the number of weeks in the month. In order to provide a better, and more immediately accessible to readers, measure of trends over time, the following graph shows the average weekly slaughterings for each of the last three years.

Further Reading

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