By Charlie Reeve
Total UK poultry meat production in February dropped back on both the previous month and on the same month last year.
Production fell by almost 44,000 tonnes on the previous month and 700 tonnes on the year to total 155,000 tonnes in February.
However, it is worth noting February typically has fewer killing days than January.
Much of the decline was a result of lower broiler meat production, which accounted for 93% of total production at 144,100 tonnes.
Boiling fowl production also contracted during February, dropping by 300 tonnes on the month to total 4,500 tonnes.
The total number of UK broiler birds slaughtered in February was 89.6m, which was up 1.5% on the same month last year.
UK boiling fowl slaughterings, including spent hens and spent breeders, held again at three million birds.
Meanwhile, turkey slaughterings was 25% lower on the year at 400,000 birds.
Average liveweights per bird at point of slaughter in England & Wales declined to 2.3kg for broilers, after having held at 2.4kg for several months over the winter.
Chick placings
UK broiler chick placings were up by 7.6% year-on-year in February at 90.3 million chicks, while commercial layer chick placings dropped by 5.6% to total 3 million chicks.
Turkey chick placings had a more dramatic fall and dropped back by 25% to 400,000 birds.
Egg production
Farmgate egg prices averaged 146 pence per dozen in the UK during the final quarter of 2024.
This was a 0.9% increase on the previous quarter and up by 6% on the same quarter last year.
UK egg production was also up during the final quarter of 2024 with 254 million dozen eggs produced for human consumption, which represents a 4.2% increase year-on-year.