04 Feb 2026
Biosecurity, Beef and Poultry Shape a Volatile Week for the Meat Trade
Meat Industry News Roundup: UK, Ireland, and Global Developments
February 4, 2026
This report provides a summary of key news and developments within the meat industry over the past week, with a focus on the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the global market. The information has been compiled from a range of industry publications and news sources to provide a comprehensive overview for stakeholders in the meat sector.
United Kingdom
The UK meat industry has seen a flurry of activity in the past week, with significant government announcements regarding animal health, alongside new data on consumer trends and corporate performance.
A report from the Public Accounts Committee has prompted the UK government to outline new plans to improve the nation’s resilience to animal diseases. The government has committed to updating its control strategies for exotic diseases such as foot and mouth disease, avian influenza, and African swine fever by March 2027. A key component of this strategy will be the introduction of mandatory electronic identification (EID) for all newborn calves from 2027, alongside a new veterinary workforce strategy to address staffing shortages .
Consumer habits continue to evolve, with a recent report from The Grocer indicating a sustained decline in at-home meat consumption. The average Briton consumed 848g of meat per week at home in 2024, a 1.1% decrease from the previous year and a 13.1% drop since 2020. The report attributes this trend to growing consumer concerns around sustainability and cost, prompting the industry to place a greater emphasis on the high standards of British produce .
In the beef sector, supplies are expected to remain tight as farmer confidence continues to falter. The Grocer reports that the industry is anticipating another year of declining production, which is likely to exert further upward pressure on prices .
On the corporate front, Marks & Spencer has announced a significant 33% increase in its sourcing of British chicken, a decision driven by a recent uplift in sales of its value chicken lines . Meanwhile, pork and poultry processor Cranswick has reported a record-breaking Christmas trading period, with strong revenue growth and particularly high demand for its premium added-value products .
Ireland
The Irish meat industry has been dominated by news of protests, trade disputes, and animal health concerns over the past week.
For the second consecutive week, farmers have been protesting at the headquarters of Bord Bia, the Irish food board, in Dublin. The protests stem from revelations that the company’s chairman is associated with a business that has imported Brazilian beef, a move that has angered many in the Irish farming community .
The issue of international trade has been further highlighted by the news that China has once again suspended imports of Irish beef. The suspension, which comes just two weeks after the market had reopened, is due to an outbreak of bluetongue disease in Irish cattle . This has led Irish beef processors to declare the current stop-start trade model with China as “unworkable” and to call for significant policy changes . In response to the bluetongue outbreak, the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed that 50 veterinary practices have so far applied for licences to administer the BTV-3 vaccine .
Domestically, beef prices remain a contentious issue. While factory quotes show that prices are currently on a firm footing, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has described a recent drop in prices as “disgraceful” and has accused processors of deliberately suppressing them .
Global Market
On the global stage, there have been significant shifts in the balance of beef production, alongside important developments in the pork market and international trade.
In a landmark development, Brazil has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest beef producer for the first time. Brazil’s beef output grew by 4% in 2025, while US production fell by 3.9% following several years of drought. Brazil’s meat exports in 2025 were valued at almost $17 billion .
The global pork industry is bracing for a period of supply cuts and changes to trade policy, according to a new report from RaboResearch. The report forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in global pork production in 2026, but notes that the global sow herd is expected to decline as China aims to reduce its herd by one million head to manage oversupply. African swine fever and PRRS continue to pose significant challenges to herd health globally .
In other trade news, Argentina has officially allocated a 20,000-ton beef export quota to the United States for 2026 . Meanwhile, a 6.4% decline in the number of cattle slaughtered in the US in 2025 is seen as creating a significant opportunity for Australian beef exports .
References
[5] Meat Management. (2026, January 27 ). Cranswick sees record Christmas trading across pork range.