Cattle farming presents specific fallen stock management challenges that are distinct from those faced by farmers working with other livestock species. The sheer size and weight of adult bovines create practical handling difficulties, and the regulatory framework governing cattle carcass disposal is among the most detailed in UK agriculture. Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service has extensive experience in supporting beef and cattle farmers with compliant, efficient fallen stock collection, and this guide covers everything cattle farmers need to know to manage this area of their operations effectively.
The Scale of the Challenge
An adult beef or dairy cow can weigh anywhere from 500 to over 700 kilograms, and the logistics of moving and storing a carcass of this size before collection require careful planning. Cattle that die in fields or at pasture may be in locations that are difficult to access with standard farm machinery, and the weight of the carcass means that inappropriate handling can create significant health and safety risks for farm workers.
For cattle farmers, having a clear plan for how fallen stock will be handled from the point of death to the point of collection is particularly important. Martland’s Fallen Stock can advise on the most practical collection arrangements for your specific holding, including how carcasses will be accessed from different locations and what to do when an animal dies in a remote or difficult-to-reach part of the farm.
Specific Record-Keeping Requirements for Cattle
Cattle are subject to particularly detailed record-keeping requirements under both the fallen stock regulations and the cattle traceability rules administered through the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS). When a bovine animal dies on your holding, you must report the death to the BCMS within seven days using the appropriate passport documentation. Martland’s Fallen Stock provides collection documentation for every visit, which should be retained alongside your BCMS records as part of your overall cattle compliance file.
In addition to the BCMS notification, fallen stock records, including the date of death, the identification number of the animal, and the date of collection, must be maintained and kept for a minimum of two years.
Specific Risk Material and Category 1 Requirements
One of the most important regulatory distinctions for cattle farmers is the requirement to manage specific risk material (SRM) as Category 1 animal by-products. SRM includes the skull, brain, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and certain intestines of cattle, reflecting the tissues most associated with BSE risk. While the incidence of BSE in UK cattle is now very low, the SRM regulations remain in force as a precautionary measure.
In practice, Martland’s Fallen Stock handles the entire carcass of a bovine animal and ensures that all Category 1 material is directed to the correct processing route. The separation and processing of SRM is handled at the approved processing facility under controlled conditions – cattle farmers simply need to ensure that all bovine carcasses are collected by Martland’s Fallen Stock and are not subjected to any on-farm processing or dismemberment.
Planning for Large Animal Collection
Because of the size and weight of cattle, collection requires specialist vehicles and equipment. Martland’s Fallen Stock operates vehicles equipped to handle large bovine carcasses, and the team can advise on access and logistics for your specific holding.
For cattle farmers with animals at pasture, it is particularly worth discussing collection logistics with Martland’s Fallen Stock in advance. If a cow dies in a far field, can the collection vehicle get close enough? Is there a gate or access route suitable for a large vehicle? Planning these practical details means that when a collection is needed urgently, there are no unexpected complications that delay removal and create biosecurity risks for the rest of the herd. Martland’s Fallen Stock is experienced in working with cattle farms of all sizes and configurations, and is well placed to find a practical solution for even the most challenging access situations.
Here are some of the other regional areas we cover. Click a link below to find out more:
Lancashire Fallen Stock Collection Service
Greater Manchester Fallen Stock Collection Service
Merseyside Fallen Stock Collection Service
Wirral Fallen Stock Collection Service
North Wales Fallen Stock Collection Service
Cheshire Fallen Stock Collection Service
