Winter is the period in the farming calendar when fallen stock losses are typically at their highest. Cold weather, reduced forage quality, the physical demands of late pregnancy and lactation on breeding females, and the challenges of managing housed livestock all contribute to elevated mortality rates across cattle, sheep, and other livestock species during the colder months. Martland’s Fallen Stock supports farming businesses through the winter period with reliable collection services and practical guidance on preparing for the seasonal increase in fallen stock events.
Why Winter Creates Particular Fallen Stock Challenges
The combination of factors that drive higher winter mortality creates specific operational challenges for fallen stock management. The period of highest livestock mortality – typically from November through to March – coincides with some of the most difficult operational conditions on farms. Cold, wet, and icy conditions make the physical handling of carcasses more difficult, may restrict access to some areas of the farm, and can affect collection logistics.
At the same time, the financial pressures of winter can make it tempting to delay arranging collection in the hope of consolidating multiple animals into a single trip. While consolidating collections with Martland’s Fallen Stock is a practical and sensible approach to managing costs, it should never result in carcasses being left without proper storage for extended periods, particularly in conditions where housed livestock are in close proximity.
Reviewing Your Collection Arrangements Before Winter
Before the onset of winter, take the time to review your fallen stock collection arrangements with Martland’s Fallen Stock and confirm that they are fit for purpose for the demands of the coming months. Check that your account is current, that contact details are up to date, and that Martland’s Fallen Stock is aware of any changes to your holding – new livestock enterprises, changes to access routes, or alterations to your storage facilities.
If you have experienced particularly high winter mortality in previous years, discuss this with the Martland’s Fallen Stock team and explore whether a more regular scheduled collection arrangement during the winter months would be more operationally practical than reactive collections. Knowing that a Martland’s Fallen Stock collection is scheduled for a specific day each week reduces the administrative burden of arranging collections reactively and provides greater certainty about carcass storage management.
Preparing Your Storage Facilities
The temporary storage facilities you use for fallen stock should be reviewed and prepared before winter begins. Hard-standing surfaces should be inspected to ensure they are in good condition and capable of containing any fluids – cracked or broken surfaces allow contamination to seep into the ground. Ensure that access to the storage area for the Martland’s Fallen Stock collection vehicle is maintained throughout the winter – if a track or gateway becomes impassable in wet conditions, discuss with the team how collections can best be managed during these periods.
If your storage area is exposed to the elements, consider whether additional cover is needed to protect the stored material during wet weather. A covered storage area reduces odour, deters vermin and scavengers, and makes the management of stored material considerably more straightforward during periods of rain, frost, or snow.
Supporting Livestock Health to Reduce Winter Losses
While this article focuses on the management of fallen stock rather than livestock health per se, it is worth noting that proactive livestock health management during the winter period is the most effective way to reduce the volume of fallen stock that needs to be managed by Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service. Ensuring that cattle and sheep enter the winter in good body condition, that vaccination programmes are up to date, that housing and ventilation are adequate, and that feeding management meets the increased nutritional demands of late pregnancy and lactation, all contribute to reducing the incidence of winter mortality.
A veterinary health plan that addresses the specific disease risks of winter helps to identify and manage the most significant mortality risks on each holding. Investing in preventive health measures during the autumn period is almost always more cost-effective than managing the consequences of high winter mortality, including the associated Martland’s Fallen Stock collection costs. The Martland’s Fallen Stock team understands the seasonal pressures of farming and is on hand throughout the winter period to provide a responsive and dependable collection service.
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
