Lambing season is the most demanding period in the sheep farmer’s year, and it is also the time when fallen stock events are most likely to occur. Managing the death of ewes and lambs correctly during this busy period is both a legal requirement and a critical biosecurity responsibility. With the right preparation, clear procedures, and Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service in place as a reliable collection partner, farmers can ensure that fallen stock is handled correctly even when the lambing shed is at its most hectic.
Preparing Before Lambing Begins
The single most important step you can take to manage fallen stock effectively during lambing is to prepare before the season starts. This means reviewing your collection arrangements with Martland’s Fallen Stock, ensuring your account is up to date, and confirming collection lead times and contact details. Do not wait until you have a carcass to deal with before finding out whether your collection arrangements are still active.
You should also designate a specific carcass storage area on a hard, impermeable surface – a concrete yard or a purpose-built deadstock storage area is ideal. This area should be positioned away from lambing pens and other areas where live animals are housed, and it should be easily accessible for the Martland’s Fallen Stock collection vehicle. If you are lambing indoors, think about how carcasses will be moved from the lambing shed to the storage area, and make sure you have appropriate handling equipment available.
During the Lambing Period
When losses occur during lambing, remove the carcass from the lambing shed promptly and transfer it to your designated storage area. If you are experiencing higher than expected losses, increase the frequency with which you check and clear the storage area, and contact Martland’s Fallen Stock earlier rather than later to arrange collection before volumes become unmanageable.
Keep a simple log in the lambing shed. Recording the date, the ear tag number of the ewe or the circumstances of a lamb loss takes only a few seconds and makes the formal record-keeping requirement much easier to meet when the season is over. Martland’s Fallen Stock will provide collection documentation for every visit, which should be kept alongside your own lambing records.
If you suspect that a fallen animal has died from a notifiable disease or as a result of unusual circumstances, contact your veterinary surgeon before moving the carcass, as there may be a requirement to notify the APHA.
Biosecurity During Lambing
Fallen stock during the lambing period presents a particular biosecurity risk because lambing sheds and pens are environments where large numbers of vulnerable animals are in close proximity. A carcass left in or near the lambing area, even briefly, can act as a source of infection for other ewes and lambs – particularly if the cause of death was an infectious disease.
Remove carcasses from the lambing environment as quickly as possible and contact Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service to arrange collection. Disinfect the area where the animal died, and, where possible, move adjacent animals to a clean area while this is done. If you are experiencing a cluster of similar deaths in a short period, seek veterinary advice promptly, as this may indicate a disease challenge that requires investigation and treatment.
After the Lambing Season
Once the lambing period is complete, take the time to review your fallen stock records for the season. Calculate your mortality rate and compare it to previous years – significant increases may indicate welfare or health issues that need to be addressed. Ensure that all collection documentation from Martland’s Fallen Stock has been filed safely and that your records are complete.
This is also a good time to review your fallen stock storage arrangements and discuss with Martland’s Fallen Stock whether a standing collection schedule might be more appropriate for your holding during future lambing periods. Good preparation before lambing begins, and a straightforward review afterwards, are the foundations of effective fallen stock management throughout the year.
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
