The latest data on poultry statistics for May 2025 reveals a mixed picture across the sector, with broiler chick placings and poultry meat production seeing modest growth, while turkey and layer figures fell sharply compared to the same month last year.
According to the new figures released today, UK broiler chick placings rose by 1.8% to 96.9 million, supporting a 1.9% increase in total poultry meat production, which reached 163.9 thousand tonnes. This growth comes despite a 1.6% year-on-year drop in broiler slaughterings, which fell to 93.3 million birds.
However, the data shows a continued decline in the turkey sector. Turkey poult placings fell by 13% to just 0.7 million, while turkey slaughterings dropped 22% year-on-year to 0.5 million birds. As a result, turkey meat production in May was down 23%, totalling just 4.2 thousand tonnes.
The layer sector also showed a downturn, with commercial layer chick placings falling 7.1% to 3.0 million.
Boiling fowl slaughterings, which include spent hens and breeders, were up 11% to 2.6 million birds.
The number of eggs set in hatcheries also showed varied trends. Eggs set for commercial broilers were up 2.4% year-on-year in May, reaching 114 million. In contrast, eggs set for turkeys remained flat, and those for layer chicks rose modestly by 3.2%.