By Charlie Reeve
Total UK poultry meat production reached 160,100 tonnes in April 2025, representing a 5.7% increase compared with the same month last year.
Production rebounded strongly in April following seasonal fluctuations earlier in the year.
Increased output from broilers was the main driver of this growth, boosted by both higher slaughter numbers and heavier average liveweights.
Broiler meat production increased by 7.4% year-on-year, reaching 154,000 tonnes.
This increase was underpinned by a 2.3% rise in broiler slaughterings to 93 million birds, combined with a 5% increase in average liveweight, which rose to 2.4 kg per bird.
Meanwhile, boiling fowl production fell by 22% on the year to 2,500 tonnes, predominantly due to lower slaughter numbers.
Turkey production also declined sharply, falling 25% year-on-year to 3,900 tonnes, with slaughterings dropping to 0.4 million birds.
Chick Placings
Chick placing trends suggest a continued focus on broiler and layer production, while breeders and turkey placements remain subdued.
Broiler chick placings were up 2.3% to 97 million chicks, while commercial layer chick placings increased by 3.2% to 3.2 million chicks.
Meanwhile, Turkey poult placings fell by 12% on the year to 0.7 million chicks.
Egg prices and production
Farmgate egg prices in the UK averaged 148 pence per dozen during the first quarter of 2025, representing a 1% increase on the previous quarter and 3.5% higher than the same period last year.
UK egg production for human consumption totalled 255 million dozen eggs during the quarter, which is 0.5% higher than the final quarter of 2024 and up 2.7% year-on-year.
In total, egg production totalled 17 thousand tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, up 19% from the previous quarter, but down 7.9% compared to the same period in 2024.