There has been a 9% increase in the export of UK sheep meat compared to the same period last year. Sheep slaughter figures are currently at 908,700 head, a 4% increase compared to January 2021.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) released the figures earlier this week.
According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), clean carcass weights are now at an average 20.6kg, 600g heavier than a year ago. AHDB lead analyst, Duncan Wyatt says “although questions remain about the kill figures for the latter part of 2021 in particular, we had forecast a carry-over of 3.9 million lambs into 2022, and also an increase in the ewe kill”.
However, figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine indicate that there was an increase in last week’s sheep kill which was at 2,060 head on from the previous week. The increase was mainly from lambs and hoggets with the number slaughtered last week at 46, 446 head, with this being an increase of 3,796 head from the previous week.
The ADHB has also indicated that there was a 21% increase in ewe kills as the figure stood at 94,500, which is 16,200 more than last year.
LSL News.