Sheep farming is one of the most widespread agricultural activities in the United Kingdom, and it is also one of the sectors in which fallen stock events occur most frequently. The seasonal demands of the farming calendar – in particular the lambing season and the challenges of managing ewes through pregnancy – mean that sheep farmers must have a clear and well-practised approach to fallen stock management. Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service works with sheep farmers across the UK to ensure that fallen stock is collected promptly, compliantly, and with as little disruption to the working farm as possible.
Why Sheep Farmers Face Particular Challenges
Sheep are vulnerable to a wide range of conditions that can result in sudden death, including metabolic disorders, respiratory infections, clostridial diseases, and pregnancy toxaemia in ewes carrying multiple lambs. The lambing period, which for many flocks runs from late January through to May depending on breed and management system, is the time of highest risk, and it is during this period that fallen stock events are most likely to occur in quick succession.
In addition to the health challenges of managing ewes and lambs through the lambing season, sheep farmers operating on upland or hill ground face the additional practical difficulty of recovering carcasses from rough terrain. A ewe that has died on an open hillside or in a remote field may require considerable effort to retrieve, and the importance of having a collection service like Martland’s Fallen Stock – one that understands these practical realities – cannot be overstated.
Legal Requirements for Sheep Carcass Disposal
Under the UK Animal By-Products Regulations, sheep carcasses are classified as Category 2 animal by-products in most circumstances. This means they must be collected by an approved fallen stock collector and transported to an approved processing facility. Burying sheep on your own land is no longer a straightforward legal option in England, Scotland or Wales for the vast majority of farmers, and burning carcasses in the open air is also prohibited.
Farmers are required to keep records of fallen stock events, including the identification number of the animal where applicable, the date of death, and the date of collection. Martland’s Fallen Stock provides full collection documentation with every visit, making it straightforward for farmers to meet their record-keeping obligations. Records must be retained for a minimum of two years.
Managing Fallen Stock During the Lambing Season
The lambing season presents the greatest fallen stock management challenge for most sheep farmers. During this period, losses can occur rapidly and in significant numbers, particularly during periods of difficult weather or when disease challenges arise within a flock. Having your fallen stock collection arrangements with Martland’s Fallen Stock firmly in place before lambing begins is essential.
For many sheep farmers, the most practical approach during lambing is to designate a specific area of the yard or steading for temporary carcass storage, on a hard, impermeable surface and away from areas where live animals are housed. Keeping a simple log of losses as they occur – even in a notebook in the lambing shed – makes the formal record-keeping requirement much easier to manage during a busy period.
If losses during lambing are higher than expected, contact Martland’s Fallen Stock promptly to arrange additional collections. The team understands the pressures of the lambing season and can respond quickly when volumes are high or when there is a disease concern.
Fly Strike and Summer Losses
Outside of the lambing season, one of the most common causes of sheep mortality is fly strike, which peaks during the warmer months of the year when blowfly populations are at their highest. Carcasses from fly-struck animals can deteriorate extremely rapidly in warm weather, making prompt collection particularly important from both a biosecurity and an odour management perspective.
During the summer months, check your flock regularly and contact Martland’s Fallen Stock as soon as a mortality is discovered. Leaving a carcass in a field during hot weather for an extended period creates a genuine disease risk for remaining animals and can attract vermin that pose wider risks to the farm environment.
By maintaining a proactive approach to fallen stock management throughout the year and by working with Martland’s Fallen Stock as a reliable collection partner, sheep farmers can remain compliant with regulations, protect the health of their flocks, and manage the practical realities of livestock farming in a responsible and organised way.
Here are some of the other regional areas we cover, click a link from 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
