Steaks were the most expensive cut of beef in the UK as of February 2024. For a kilogram of steak, consumers could expect to pay 16.78 British pounds. Mince was the cheapest beef product, at only 6.84 British pounds per kilogram.

UK beef consumption

Perhaps due to its cheap price point, mince is the most purchased cut of meat in Great Britain. The volume of mince purchased in 2020/2021 was more than double the purchases of the next most popular cut, beef burgers, and grills. In general, consumer spending on meat in the UK has increased. In 2022, spending exceeded 22 billion British pounds for the first time.

Cattle population in the UK

In 2022, the population of cattle and calves in the UK was about 9.4 million and has generally been gradually declining for almost two decades. The number of cows and bulls slaughtered annually has fluctuated during this period, however. In 2021. More than 655,000 cows and bulls were slaughtered in the UK.

Beef traded flat at 298.50 BRL/15KG on July 17, 2025. Over the past month, Beef's price has fallen 4.89%, but it is still 29.11% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Beef - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

In 2022, the population of cattle and calves in the United Kingdom was approximately 9.42 million, a slight decrease from the previous year. 2020 was the lowest number for the entire period shown in this graph. Despite a small rebound in 2014 and 2015 this constitutes a slow long-term decline of herd sizes.

Beef production

In 2021, just under two million animals that can be considered prime cattle were slaughtered. Older adult animals and calves amounted for slightly over 800,000 slaughtered animals. The average prime cattle carcass weighed 346 kilograms in 2020. As of the 6th of July 2019, prices for deadweight prime cattle reached a low of 327.5 p/kg. It is likely that more environmentally conscious and ethically minded consumers, which drive the trend for an increased demand of plant-based food, are responsible for the currently low price, which is decidedly under the five-year average.

Environmental impact

Beef consistently ranks among the most environmentally damaging food products. It produces the highest acidifying emissions per gram of protein, the most eutrophying (over enriching water with nutrients and minerals) emissions per gram of protein and requires the most water per ton of meat. Only lambs and sheep use more land per 100 grams of protein produced than cows. Both meat types have a higher CO² footprint than any other food. The enteric fermentation of the cows is the primary source for their greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions amounted to 18.1 million tons of CO² equivalent in the UK in 2021.

United Kingdom OFBPI: Meat: Beef data was reported at 98.400 01Jun2020=100 in 22 Mar 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 98.800 01Jun2020=100 for 15 Mar 2021. United Kingdom OFBPI: Meat: Beef data is updated weekly, averaging 98.900 01Jun2020=100 from Jun 2020 (Median) to 22 Mar 2021, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.400 01Jun2020=100 in 15 Jun 2020 and a record low of 98.100 01Jun2020=100 in 15 Feb 2021. United Kingdom OFBPI: Meat: Beef data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.I040: Online Food and Beverages Price Index: 1 June 2020=100.

United Kingdom OFBPI: Meat: Beef Burger data was reported at 104.900 01Jun2020=100 in 22 Mar 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 104.200 01Jun2020=100 for 15 Mar 2021. United Kingdom OFBPI: Meat: Beef Burger data is updated weekly, averaging 102.800 01Jun2020=100 from Jun 2020 (Median) to 22 Mar 2021, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 105.900 01Jun2020=100 in 21 Dec 2020 and a record low of 100.000 01Jun2020=100 in 08 Jun 2020. United Kingdom OFBPI: Meat: Beef Burger data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.I040: Online Food and Beverages Price Index: 1 June 2020=100.

This statistic shows the average annual output price of eggs in the United Kingdom from 1994 to 2021, in index format. Despite some fluctuation, the output price index of eggs generally increased from 1999 till 2013. In 2013 the index peaked at 110.3 points. The index fell afterwards to 99.9 points in 2021.