A Red Tractor assessment looks at far more than animal welfare and feed records, and how you dispose of fallen stock and the paperwork behind it is squarely within the assessor’s scope. Martlands helps farmers walk into an audit with their disposal records in order, as part of our fallen stock and ABP collection service from our family-run, DEFRA approved base in Burscough, Lancashire. A little preparation turns the fallen stock section of an audit from a worry into a quiet tick.
What an Assessor Looks For
Assurance schemes expect to see that fallen animals are disposed of lawfully through a licensed collector, and that you can prove it. That means an assessor will want evidence of who collects your fallen stock, that the collector is properly licensed, and that you retain the documentation each collection generates. A vague assurance that the knacker comes round is not enough, the scheme wants a clear, evidenced system. Because Martlands provides a Commercial Document on every collection and is an NFSCO member with full ABP category licensing, working with us gives you exactly the kind of evidence an assessor expects to find.
The Records to Have Ready
Before an audit, gather your fallen stock collection documents into a single chronological file, and make sure they reconcile with your own mortality records. An assessor likes to see that the number of animals you recorded as having died lines up with the collections that took place. Gaps or mismatches invite questions, while a tidy, matching record set signals a well-run holding. Our guidance on fallen stock and the law explains the underlying legal duties your records demonstrate compliance with.
The Cattle Over Forty-Eight Months Point
For cattle holdings, assessors are alert to the BSE surveillance requirements that apply to fallen cattle over forty-eight months of age, which must be tested. Martlands operates as a DEFRA approved sampling centre for this purpose, so animals requiring a sample are handled correctly and the surveillance obligation is met as part of the collection. Our blog on BSE testing of fallen cattle explains how the process works and why being able to point to an approved sampling route strengthens your audit position.
Demonstrating a System, Not Just an Incident
The strongest audit position shows that disposal is a routine, controlled process rather than something improvised when an animal dies. Having a named licensed collector, a known procedure for storage before collection, and a consistent filing habit all demonstrate the system thinking assurance schemes reward. Our farm and fallen stock collection service is designed to slot into that kind of routine.
Local Support for Assured Farms
Assured farms across the North West rely on a dependable collector to keep their records clean, and our reach covers the dairy and livestock areas where Red Tractor membership is widespread. Farmers can read about our local Lancaster fallen stock collection service, covering the farming country of north Lancashire and the Lune Valley.
Keeping Records Current Between Audits
The farms that find audits painless are those that file as they go rather than reconstructing a year’s worth of paperwork the night before an assessor arrives. Because we hand over documentation on every collection, the only habit you need is to drop each document into a folder and note it against your mortality record. Done consistently, that turns the fallen stock section of an assessment into a two-minute exercise of producing a complete, chronological file, and it removes any temptation to improvise a record after the fact, which is the kind of thing an experienced assessor spots immediately.
Walking In Prepared
An audit is far less stressful when your fallen stock disposal is handled by a licensed collector who gives you the paperwork as standard and you simply keep it filed. To set up a collection arrangement that keeps you audit-ready all year round, call Martlands on 01704 776977 and we will make sure your records stand up to scrutiny.
