June 25, 2025

UK beef production registers 2% month-on-month increase in May

The latest production data published by Defra for May 2025 has recorded UK beef production at 75,900 tonnes representing an increase of 2% (1,400 tonnes) on the previous month.

However, when comparing this figure to the same month of last year, this represents a 4% reduction (2,900 tonnes) on May 2024's figure. UK beef production has now been below 2024 levels for every month of 2025 so far, representing a year-to-date fall of 10,000 tonnes (3%) to total 300,000 tonnes (January to May 2025).

Prime cattle slaughter for May 2025 followed suit with production, increasing by 5,000 head (3%) on the month to total 178,000 head. This could be reflective of producers trying to catch the recent strong prices, as elevated returns may be incentivising them to finish cattle. Adding to this, the slaughter figure fell by 7,600 head compared to May 2024 (4%), suggesting the forecast tightness in supply may be starting to kick in.

With firm farmgate prices, it may have become more financially worthwhile to grow cattle on for longer, as each additional kilogram is returning greater value, especially when compared to the relative price of feed. This is supported by the rise in average prime cattle carcase weights, which hit their highest level since June 2022 at 347 kg, up 1.2 kg on the month and 2.9 kg compared to May 2024.

Cull cow slaughter fell by 3,000 head on the month to 41,000 head. This was also down 3,000 head compared to May 2025. This could be a consequence of favourable milk prices, especially when looking at milk price to feed ratios, encouraging cow retention and reducing supplies available from the dairy herd. This may also be a contributing factor to the increase in Great Britain milk deliveries which set a new peak month record for May.

- AHDB