United Kingdom Livestock Price: Great Britain (GB): Clean Cattle: Liveweight data was reported at 271.590 GBP/100 kg in Mar 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 267.110 GBP/100 kg for Feb 2023. United Kingdom Livestock Price: Great Britain (GB): Clean Cattle: Liveweight data is updated monthly, averaging 193.760 GBP/100 kg from Jan 2015 (Median) to Mar 2023, with 99 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 271.590 GBP/100 kg in Mar 2023 and a record low of 171.850 GBP/100 kg in Apr 2016. United Kingdom Livestock Price: Great Britain (GB): Clean Cattle: Liveweight data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.P003: Livestock Prices: Great Britain. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Steaks were the most expensive cut of beef in the UK as of *************. For a kilogram of steak, consumers could expect to pay ***** British pounds. Mince was the cheapest beef product, at only **** 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 ** 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 *** 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 ******* cows and bulls were slaughtered in the UK.

From 2018 to 2024, the price for male cattle was consistently higher in the UK than in Ireland or in the European Union. Prices in all regions hit a high in 2024, with UK prices reaching about *** euros per kilogram deadweight. Producer prices in 2024 were **** euros and **** euros per kilogram in the EU and Ireland, respectively.

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.

The price and demand for cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and horses strongly influence live animal wholesalers' revenue. Abattoirs, a significant market for wholesalers, are contending with labour shortages, falling livestock numbers, tightening regulations and low profitability - constraining the potential market for wholesalers. Teething issues regarding new trade certifications at EU-UK borders led to live animal exports collapsing to the EU. The export of live animals for fattening or slaughter purposes was banned in the UK in 2023, leading to a sharp reduction in export sales. According to Defra, high feed costs (driven by high energy and fertiliser costs) drove substantial increases in the cost of rearing livestock prices in 2022-23. To stay operational, farmers had to pass on the cost increases to wholesalers, whose profit margin suffered as a result. A double-edged sword of high rearing costs and changing government policy towards traditional farming contributes to a long-term decline in livestock numbers, threatening revenue. In 2024-25, the price of live animals is falling, with revenue anticipated to fall by 11.4%. Despite this, an uptick in real wages will support growth in downstream sales volumes of premium meat products. The shift in farms' focus on high-margin, free-range, organic produce will benefit profitability. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.7% to £416.1 million. Demand for sustainably and ethically reared animals will grow in popularity as consumers become increasingly concerned about animal welfare. Investment in advertising will become critical for wholesalers concentrating on this segment to secure strong sales. Government regulation will likely continue to tighten concerning animal welfare, particularly after several virus and disease outbreaks among livestock populations. Operating costs will edge upward as wholesalers seek to meet the new standards, weighing on profitability. Over the next five years, revenue is forecast to fall at a compound annual rate of 5.6% to reach £311.3 million.

Quarterly Market Report (average livestock and crop prices). Source agency: Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Quarterly Market Report (average livestock and crop prices)

Weekly Market Report (average livestock and crop prices). Source agency: Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Weekly Market Report (average livestock and crop prices)

Beef traded flat at 321.60 BRL/15KG on December 1, 2025. Over the past month, Beef's price has risen 0.44%, but it is still 8.58% lower 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 December of 2025.

The UK cattle hide and skin market declined to $25M in 2024, shrinking by -6.8% against the previous year. In general, consumption faced a deep setback. Cattle hide and skin consumption peaked at $87M in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2024, consumption failed to regain momentum.

The Dairy Cattle Raising industry's revenue is projected to contract at a compound annual rate of 0.2% over the five years through 2024-25. Dairy cattle farmers struggled before the pandemic as dairy processors were forced to lower prices paid for raw milk because of strong global competition. While smaller farmers have occasionally been forced out of the industry, there has been little consolidation activity, as collective bargaining has prevented larger farms from gaining a competitive edge. The pandemic did small favour for the industry as the volume of milk and dairy sold to hospitality and food processors fell, denting revenue. Mounting operating costs and fluctuating demand for milk have caused major volatility in the market. Key inputs for dairy farmers, like fertilisers and energy costs, shot up in price. At the same time, milk sales were rising as consumption recovered from the impact of the pandemic. This caused domestic milk prices to skyrocket, boosting dairy farm revenue in the two years through 2022-23. However, the market has stabilised in the following years, driving down revenue, while milk consumption has come under increasing pressure from plant-based alternatives like oat milk. As a result, dairy farm revenue is projected to fall 6% in 2024-25, reaching £5.3 billion. Operating costs are set to continue falling as production stabilises and consumers adjust supply chains. Farmers are also likely to benefit from improvements in cattle raising, with automation reducing the cost of monitoring and caring for farmers' herds. Farmers are predicted to boost profitability by catering to rising environmentalism, selling more sustainably farmed milk and applying for sustainability-based funding. However, farmers are likely to continue to struggle with the slow fall in average household milk consumption. Farmers must also contend with the growing popularity of other types of milk, from soy to almond to potato. The Dairy Cattle Raising industry's revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 1% to £5.6 billion over the five years through 2029-30.

This statistic shows the price of pigs and pigmeat in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2023, in pence per kilogram of deadweight. In 2023, the price of pigs and pigmeat was at **** British pounds per kilo of deadweight. Additionally, the value of pigmeat production in the United Kingdom can be found at the following.

The average cows skin export price stood at $589 per ton in March 2025, jumping by 34% against the previous month.

This statistic shows the average annual output price of cattle and calves in the United Kingdom from 1994 to 2019. Between 1998 and 2013, total output prices have generally risen reaching a peak in 2013 at a price index of 109.3. In 2019, the outcome price index reached 98.3 index points.