Farmers operating in upland, hill, or other remote areas of the United Kingdom face a particular set of challenges when it comes to fallen stock management. Difficult terrain, remote field systems, limited road access, and the practical difficulties of working in exposed conditions all compound the already demanding task of managing fallen stock in compliance with UK regulations. Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service has experience of supporting farming businesses in rural and remote locations, and this article explores what farmers in these areas should consider when establishing their fallen stock arrangements.
The Specific Challenges of Remote and Upland Farming
For hill farmers and those working in upland areas, the challenges of fallen stock management begin with the simple question of location. An animal that has died on an open hillside, in a remote valley, or in a field accessible only via a difficult track may be very far from the nearest hard road – and moving a large carcass across rough ground without appropriate equipment is neither safe nor straightforward.
The weather conditions typical of upland farming areas also add complexity. Fallen stock events in winter may coincide with periods of snow, ice, or heavy rain that make access to remote fields difficult or impossible for standard vehicles. Martland’s Fallen Stock understands these realities and works with upland farmers to find practical, compliant solutions that reflect the genuine operational challenges of hill farming.
Planning Collection Logistics in Advance
The most effective way for upland and remote farmers to manage fallen stock is to plan the logistics of collection in advance, rather than attempting to work out the practicalities at the point when a collection is urgently needed. Martland’s Fallen Stock encourages farmers to get in touch before a fallen stock event occurs, so that the team can understand the layout of the holding, the access routes available, and the practical challenges that might arise.
Sharing information about access routes to different parts of your farm – which tracks can take a large vehicle, where gates are located, and which areas are likely to be inaccessible in wet weather – helps Martland’s Fallen Stock to provide the most responsive and practical service possible. For fields that are genuinely inaccessible to a collection vehicle, it may be necessary to establish a procedure for moving carcasses to a collection point using farm equipment before the Martland’s Fallen Stock vehicle arrives.
Temporary Storage in Remote Locations
In upland farming situations, it is not always possible to move a fallen animal to a designated hard-standing storage area promptly. Where an animal has died in a remote location and cannot be moved safely or quickly, the priority is to minimise environmental contamination and prevent the carcass from being accessed by scavengers while collection is arranged.
Contacting Martland’s Fallen Stock as soon as a fallen animal is discovered is always the right first step, even if it is in a location that will present collection challenges. The Martland’s Fallen Stock team will work with you to find a practical solution and can advise on what measures to take at the site of the carcass while collection logistics are being arranged.
Regulatory Compliance for Remote Holdings
Farmers in upland and remote areas are subject to the same animal by-product regulations as all other UK farmers. There are very limited provisions within the regulations that allow on-site disposal in circumstances where collection is genuinely not feasible, but these provisions are narrowly drawn and require prior approval from the APHA – they are not available as a general alternative to approved collection.
For the vast majority of upland farmers, the correct approach is to work with Martland’s Fallen Stock, which has experience of operating in challenging terrain and can plan collection logistics carefully so that when a fallen stock event occurs, compliant disposal can be arranged without unnecessary delay. Martland’s Fallen Stock is committed to supporting the full range of UK farming operations, including those in the most remote and difficult locations.
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
