This monthly publication gives UK statistics on the slaughter of cattle, sheep and pigs, dressed carcase weights and meat production. Additional information is provided each quarter on UK meat supplies (ie production adjusted for overseas trade).

With effect from February 2016 the statistics published in this notice are based on calendar rather than statistical months. This change simplifies our survey processes and brings our slaughter survey in line with our milk surveys which are already run on a calendar month basis, it also removes the need for the 53 week year (which would have to be 2016). Since the end of weekly slaughter survey several years ago, there is no legislative requirement for weekly data, so since then we have derived the average weekly throughput from the monthly survey data.

This notice replaces the notice published at 9.30am on the 11th October and contains large revisions to previously published sheep data.

January 2016 data includes the last week of December 2015 and is therefore classed as a 5 week month. 1st February 2016 onwards the statistics are based on calendar months.

Next update: see the statistics release calendar

If you require datasets in another format such as Excel, please contact julie.rumsey@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

This publication includes monthly information on the retail production of compound animal feed in Great Britain and the quantity of raw materials used. It also includes quarterly information about the average sales prices of the feed. The information comes from surveys of GB animal feed companies and of specialised integrated poultry units.

Compound animal feed is a type of animal feed made up of several different ingredients, including vitamins and minerals, to help provide a balanced diet. It is usually fed to animals in the form of compressed pellets.

Next update: The statistical notice published 8 February 2018 is the final publication of this monthly series by Defra. Further publications and datasets will be published by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board AHDB cereal usage data.

Average compound feed prices by main livestock categories – GB dataset are updated by Defra here.

The Agricultural Price Index (API) is a monthly publication that measures the price changes in agricultural outputs and inputs for the UK. The output series reflects the price farmers receive for their products, also referred to as farm gate price. Information is collected for all major crops (for example wheat and potatoes) and on livestock and livestock products (for example sheep, milk and eggs). The input series reflects the price farmers pay for goods and services. This is split into two groups: goods and services currently consumed; and goods and services contributing to investment. Goods and services currently consumed refer to items that are used up in the production process, for example fertiliser, or seed. Goods and services contributing to investment relate to items that are required but not consumed in the production process, such as tractors or buildings.

A price index is a way of measuring relative price changes compared to a reference point or base year which is given a value of 100. The year used as the base year needs to be updated over time to reflect changing market trends. In accordance with the standardised methodology agreed across the EU the latest data are now presented with a base year of 2015=100. This replaces the previous data series which used a base year of 2010. Details of this methodology is described in the Handbook for EU agricultural price statistics.

Next update: see the statistics release calendar

This publication gives previously published copies of the National Statistics publication, since June 2013, about agricultural performance in the English regions. The regions are defined according to the European Union Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics – level 1 (NUTS1), which for England means the North West, North East etc. The publication summarises key components of the production and income accounts for UK agriculture and describes the relative growth in Total Income from Farming in the short and medium term. The contribution that the agricultural industry makes to the regional economy is compared with that for England as a whole.

This information is published biannually, currenlty in June and December. Each publication gives the figures available at that time. The figures are subject to revision as new information becomes available.

The latest publication and accompanying data set can be found here

Standard rules guidance to operate a composting activity involving the storage, physical treatment and composting of specified biodegradable wastes in an open or closed (in-vessel) composting system.

You can apply online for most standard rules environmental permits.

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.