UK Poultry and Poultrymeat Statistics - December 2003
By Defra - This monthly publication from Defra combines information from the UK Hatcheries Survey and Poultry Slaughterhouse Survey results together with other Defra statistics, and trade data, pulling all ‘official’ poultry statistics in one publication.Section 1: UK Hatcheries Data - Placings and Eggs Set
UK placings of commercial broiler chicks in November 2003 were 8% higher than in November 2002 (Table 1.1). Eggs set in November 2003 were 2% higher than in November 2002 (Table 1.5)
UK placings of female broiler parent chicks in November 2003 were 7% lower than in November 2002 (Table 1.2)
UK placings of turkey poults in November 2003 were 5% higher than in November 2002 (Table 1.3). Eggs set for commercial turkeys in November 2003 were 6% lower than in November 2002 (Table 1.6)
UK placings of commercial layer chicks in November 2003 were 4% higher than in November 2002 (Table 1.4). Eggs set for commercial birds in November 2003 were 4% lower than in November 2002 (Table 1.7)

Chart 1.3: Monthly UK Turkey Poult Placings

Section 2: UK Trade in Live Poultry
For the period January to September 2003, imports of commercial broiler chicks were higher than for the same period in 2002, and exports were 55% lower (Table 2.1)
For the period January to September 2003, imports of turkey poults were 19% lower than for the same period in 2002, and exports were 37% lower (Table 2.2)
For the period January to September 2003, exports of live fowls were 15% lower than for the same period in 2002 (Table 2.3)
For the period January to September 2003, exports of live turkeys were 46% lower than for the same period in 2002 (Table 2.3)

Chart 2.2: Imports and Exports of Turkey Poults

Section 3: UK Slaughterhouse Data - Numbers Slaughtered and Average Weights
UK slaughterings of broilers in November 2003 were 3% higher than in November 2002 (Table 3.1). At 2.27kg average liveweight in England & Wales this was the same as October 2003 (Table 3.4)
UK slaughterings of boiling fowls in November 2003 were 19% lower than in November 2002 (Table 3.2). At 2.14kg average liveweight in England & Wales were lower than in October 2003 (Table 3.4)
UK slaughterings of turkeys in November 2003 were 36% higher than in November 2002 (Table 3.3). At 14.05kg the average liveweight of 'heavy' turkeys in England & Wales were 6% lower and at 6.13kg the average liveweight of 'light' turkeys were 4% higher than in October 2003 (Table 3.4)

Section 4: UK Poultrymeat Production, Trade and Domestic Usage (Net of Offal)
Total UK poultry production for Q3 2003 was 6% higher than in Q3 2002, with broiler production 7% higher over the same period (Table 4.1)
For the period January to September 2003, UK imports of poultrymeat were 5% higher than for the same period in 2002, with whole birds 6% lower and cuts 7% higher. (Table 4.2)
For the period January to September 2003, UK exports of poultrymeat were 17% higher than for the same period in 2002, with whole birds 7% lower and cuts 19% higher (Table 4.3)
UK domestic usage of poultrymeat in Q3 2003 was 9% higher than in Q3 2002 (Table 4.4)

Chart 4.3: Exports of Whole Birds and Cuts

Chart 4.4: Total Poultrymeat Imports and Exports

Section 5: Other Poultry Statistics
UK Production of compound feed for poultry in October 2003 was slightly higher than in October 2002 (Table 5.1)
The Poultry Price Index for August 2003 was 2% higher than in August 2002 (Table 5.2)
Link to main report
To read the full report, including tables (PDF - 14 pages, 735Kb) Click hereSource: Defra - December 2003