Starting out in farming – whether as a new entrant to the industry or as a tenant farmer taking on a holding for the first time – involves navigating a complex landscape of regulations, responsibilities, and practical requirements. Among the regulatory obligations that apply from the very first day of managing livestock is the requirement to arrange compliant fallen stock disposal. Martland’s Fallen Stock is here to make this process as straightforward as possible for new and tenant farmers, providing a professional, fully approved collection service backed by clear guidance and practical support.
Understanding What Fallen Stock Is
Fallen stock is the term used to describe livestock that has died on a farm holding other than through slaughter at an approved abattoir. This includes animals that have died from illness or injury, animals that have been euthanised by a veterinary surgeon on welfare grounds, and animals that have been found dead in fields or farm buildings. Any animal that dies on your holding is fallen stock and must be disposed of in accordance with the UK Animal By-Products Regulations.
As a new or tenant farmer, it is important to understand that the responsibility for ensuring compliant fallen stock disposal rests with you as the person responsible for the holding. Whether you are the owner of the land or a tenant, if you are the farmer responsible for the livestock, you are the person who must ensure that fallen stock is managed correctly. Martland’s Fallen Stock can help you to understand these obligations and put a straightforward collection arrangement in place from the outset.
What the Law Requires
The Animal By-Products Regulations require that fallen livestock be collected by an approved collector and processed at an approved facility. In practice, this means that when an animal dies on your holding, you must arrange collection by a licensed fallen stock collection service such as Martland’s Fallen Stock – you cannot bury the animal in a field, burn it in the open air, or leave it on the land without appropriate storage and prompt collection.
You are also required to keep records of fallen stock events on your holding, including the date of death, the species and identification details of the animal, and the date and method of disposal. Martland’s Fallen Stock provides collection documentation for every visit, which should be filed safely as part of your records and retained for a minimum of two years.
Setting Up With Martland’s Fallen Stock
The most important practical step for any new or tenant farmer is to register with Martland’s Fallen Stock before you need to use the service. Do not wait until you have a fallen animal to deal with before trying to find a collection service – by that point, the urgency of the situation will add unnecessary stress to what may already be a difficult experience.
Getting started with Martland’s Fallen Stock is straightforward. Contact the team and provide details of your holding – including your location, the species of livestock you keep, and any access considerations. Martland’s Fallen Stock will set up an account for you and confirm the collection arrangements that will apply to your holding. Keep the Martland’s Fallen Stock contact details somewhere easily accessible – many farmers save the number in their mobile phone and post it on a board in their main farm building.
Practical Advice for Your First Year
In your first year of farming, fallen stock events may come as a surprise – both in terms of the practical challenge of finding a dead animal and in terms of the administrative requirements that follow. The best advice is to approach fallen stock management as you would any other farm compliance matter – get the arrangement with Martland’s Fallen Stock in place early, keep the record-keeping process simple, and seek advice when you are unsure.
Martland’s Fallen Stock is always happy to answer questions from new and tenant farmers about the obligations that apply to their specific situation. If you are unsure about record-keeping requirements, collection logistics in your area, or any other aspect of fallen stock management, the Martland’s Fallen Stock team is a reliable source of practical, experience-based guidance. Fallen stock collection is not something to be anxious about – with Martland’s Fallen Stock in place as your collection provider, it is a straightforward compliance matter that can be managed efficiently alongside all of the other demands of running a farming business.
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
