UK: Throughputs drive uplift in sheep meat production

According to latest Defra figures, UK sheep meat production in October totalled 24,400 tonnes, up 6% (1,400 tonnes) on the revised September production figures (of 23,000 tonnes). Average carcase weights held steady on last year at 19.9kg, however were 200g up on those recorded for September. Clean sheep slaughter stood at an estimated 1.1 million head, up 64,000 (6.2%) on revised September figures. Throughputs were down on last year, back 12,000 (1.1%). Adult sheep kill was both up on last month (0.7%), as well as on last year (7.2%). Year to date (Jan-Oct), throughputs of clean sheep totalled 9.79 million head, up 312,000 head (3%) on the same period last year. Slaughter of adult sheep also rose, totalling 1 million head for the year to date, up 5% from 950,000 for the same period in 2021. Year to date (Jan-Oct), production of sheep meat totalled 225,300 tonnes, up 9,100 tonnes (4.2%) on the same period last year. Carcase weights of clean sheep for the year to date averaged ...