Lamb market update: Lowest October slaughter figures on record in the UK

UK sheep meat production has fallen significantly since 2023, currently at 7% lower for the period of January to October. Production has totalled 218,000 tonnes so far this year, with October’s volumes at 25,000 tonnes. A decline in adult and clean sheep slaughter, 12.5% and 7% year-to-date reduction respectively, has contributed to this overall decline in production. This is likely an influence of both difficult growing conditions this year and smaller breeding numbers illustrated by 2024’s lower female breeding flock in England, down 5.6% as of 1st of June compared to the same time in 2023 with figures for the UK set to be released in the new year. Clean sheep kill has totalled 9.29m head to October this year, a fall of 704,000 head compared to this time last year. October kill sat at 1.09m head, an increase of 133,500 from September’s figure but 18,000 head behind 2023. October is the first month of 2024 to exceed 1m head slaughtered, yet this figure remains the smallest ...