UK poultry meat production continued to outpace last year’s levels in September, with output increasing faster than slaughter numbers as heavier broilers supported production.
Total UK poultry meat production reached 182,100 tonnes in September, up 6.7% compared with September 2025, according to the latest Defra figures. Broiler meat production increased 8.1% to 170,000 tonnes, while 98.4 million broilers were slaughtered, up 3% year on year.
Average broiler liveweight reached 2.5kg in September, 5% higher than a year earlier. The increase in bird weights, alongside higher slaughter numbers, helped drive the rise in meat production.
Turkey slaughterings increased 26% year on year to 0.7 million birds, while boiling fowl throughputs fell 25% to 2.2 million birds.
Chick placings
Hatchery data presents a mixed picture, with broiler chick placings broadly stable year on year, while layer and turkey placements increased.
UK broiler chick placings fell 0.1% year on year to 95.9 million chicks during September. The number of commercial broiler eggs set was down 1.5% to 110 million, compared with September 2025.
Turkey poult placings increased sharply, rising 85% year on year to 1.5 million poults, while turkey eggs set increased 31% to 1.3 million.
Commercial layer chick placings increased 12% to 3.4 million chicks, pointing to continued expansion in the laying flock. Commercial layer eggs set also increased, rising 8.8% year on year to 11 million.
Broiler breeder egg sets fell 0.8% to 6.5 million, suggesting little change in the pipeline for future broiler production.
Egg prices and production
The latest quarterly figures show UK egg production continuing to expand, although growth moderated during the second quarter of 2026.
UK egg production for human consumption reached 272 million dozen during Q2 2026, up 3.4% compared with the same quarter last year, although 0.5% below Q1. The average UK farmgate egg price was 153p/dozen, 3.1% higher year on year.
Shell egg production reached 240.3 million dozen, while processed egg production totalled 31.7 million dozen.
Packing-station intake increased 2.7% year on year to 268.1 million dozen. Free-range eggs accounted for 76% of throughput at 202.5 million dozen, while enriched-cage eggs accounted for 14% and barn eggs for 7%.
Demand from egg processors remained particularly strong. Eggs bought by UK processors reached 25,200 tonnes during Q2, up 34% year on year, while production of egg products increased 32.3% to 19,400 tonnes.