# UK cattle and sheep slaughter fell in September

> Defra data also showed meat production below the level recorded in the same month of 2025.

- Canonical URL: https://newsverum.com/en/news/uk-september-2026-meat-output-slaughter
- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Agriculture
- Country: United Kingdom
- Published: 2026-10-15T20:48:37+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-15T20:48:37+00:00
- Event / data period: 2026-09
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UK cattle slaughterings fell 6.5% year on year to 160,000 head in September 2026, while beef and veal production declined 5.4% to 73,000 tonnes. Sheep slaughterings dropped 6.3% to 914,000 head and mutton and lamb output fell 3.7% to 22,000 tonnes, according to figures published by Defra on October 15.

Pig slaughterings were down 1.1% at 890,000 head and pigmeat production edged 0.2% lower to 84,000 tonnes. The figures cover animals slaughtered for human consumption. Defra’s monthly statistics track slaughter numbers, carcase weights and meat output.

## Data

### UK cattle slaughter statistic

Source-reported indicator and period comparison.

Methodology: The value follows the source-reported comparison. Any calculated value is identified in the description; source measures and reference periods are retained.

| label | value | unit | period | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual change in September cattle slaughterings | -6.5 | percent | 2026-09 | observed |

Sources: <https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cattle-sheep-and-pig-slaughter/monthly-uk-statistics-on-cattle-sheep-and-pig-slaughter-and-meat-production-statistics-notice-data-to-september-2026> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/uk-september-2026-meat-output-slaughter/data/agri-indicator?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/uk-september-2026-meat-output-slaughter/data/agri-indicator?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs](<https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cattle-sheep-and-pig-slaughter/monthly-uk-statistics-on-cattle-sheep-and-pig-slaughter-and-meat-production-statistics-notice-data-to-september-2026>) (Source checked: 2026-10-15; Published: 2026-10-15)

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