Martlands provides a professional and fully compliant Farm and Fallen Stock Collection service for farmers and livestock owners across the North West. We understand that dealing with deceased livestock is a time-sensitive and often distressing task, which is why our family-run team is committed to a rapid, same-day collection availability. Operating as a DEFRA approved sampling centre, we ensure that all animal by-product removal is handled with the highest standards of biosecurity and environmental care.
Legal Requirements for Fallen Stock Disposal
The 24-Hour Rule and Reporting
Under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013, livestock owners have a “Duty of Care” to ensure that fallen stock is collected, identified, and transported without undue delay—typically within 24 hours of discovery. Our rapid-response fleet ensures you meet these statutory timelines, reducing the risk of fines and environmental contamination.
Why On-Farm Burial is Prohibited
Since 2003, the burial or burning of livestock on-farm has been illegal in the UK (with very few exceptions for remote areas). This ban is essential to protect groundwater and prevent the spread of diseases such as BSE, Scrapie, and Anthrax. Martlands provides a legal, traceable alternative, providing you with the necessary Commercial Document (CD) for every collection to satisfy DEFRA and Red Tractor audits.
Compliant Livestock Disposal in Lancashire and Cheshire
As a long-standing member of the National Fallen Stock Scheme (NFSS), we offer a streamlined process for the collection and disposal of all farm animals. Our services are designed to help you remain compliant with the Animal By-Products Regulations, ensuring that your farm hygiene remains uncompromised.
Specialised Livestock Removal for All Species
Cattle and Over-Age TSE Sampling
We provide specialised lifting equipment for large cattle carcasses. As a DEFRA-approved sampling centre, we handle the mandatory brain stem testing (TSE sampling) for over-age cattle, ensuring the data is correctly recorded for national disease surveillance.
Sensitive Equine Collection & Cremation
We understand that losing a horse or pony is a distressing event. Our team provides a dignified and sensitive equine collection service. We offer various options, including individual cremation, ensuring your horse is handled with the utmost respect from the farm to our facility.
Sheep, Goat, and Pig Disposal
Whether you are dealing with routine losses or a larger-scale mortality event, our team is equipped to clear your site quickly. We maintain strict segregation to ensure all species-specific regulations are followed during the rendering or incineration process.
Our Farm and Fallen Stock Collection Service
Our comprehensive Farm and Fallen Stock Collection service operates across the North West, providing reliable solutions for the agricultural community. We have invested in modern infrastructure and training to ensure that every collection is handled with the utmost professionalism and speed.
Our service includes:
- Expertly Trained Personnel: Our team is fully trained in the safe handling and transport of animal by-products, ensuring strict adherence to biosecurity protocols on your farm.
- Fully Licensed Processing Facility: We operate a DEFRA-approved site, providing a legal and traceable route for all fallen livestock disposal.
- Advanced Fleet Communication: Our vehicles are equipped with real-time radio and GPS communication, allowing us to redirect wagons for a faster, more responsive service when you have an emergency.
- On-Site Post-Mortem Facilities: We provide full facilities for post-mortem examinations, assisting vets and farmers in identifying causes of loss and managing herd health.
Contact the specialists at Martlands today for further information or to request a tailored quote for your farm.
Why Choose Martlands for Fallen Stock Removal?
Choosing a local specialist for your Farm and Fallen Stock Collection ensures that you receive a quicker response than national alternatives. We have spent over 100 years working alongside the farming community in the North West, building a reputation for reliability and professional integrity.
Our Industry-Leading Biosecurity Protocols
Biosecurity is our top priority. Our vehicles are thoroughly disinfected between collections to prevent cross-contamination. As a licensed sampling centre, we provide the necessary documentation and traceability required for your farm records, giving you total peace of mind during inspections.
Disease Prevention and Vehicle Sanitisation
Biosecurity is the cornerstone of our operation. To prevent the transmission of pathogens between holdings, every Martlands vehicle undergoes a rigorous cleansing and sanitisation process using DEFRA approved disinfectants. Our drivers are trained in “Clean/Dirty” zone protocols to ensure they do not become a vector for disease movement.
Secure, Leak-Proof Transport
We utilise a fleet of specialised, leak-proof vehicles and sealed containers. This ensures that no fluids or biological materials escape during transit on public highways, maintaining the highest level of environmental safety and public health.
What to do While Awaiting Fallen Stock Collection
To help maintain farm hygiene and facilitate a quick pickup, we recommend the following steps:
- Isolate the Carcass: Move the animal away from watercourses, livestock, and public footpaths.
- Cover Securely: Use a heavy-duty, breathable tarpaulin to prevent access by scavengers or birds.
- Ensure Access: Ensure the collection point is on a hard-standing surface that can be easily accessed by an HGV or 4×4 trailer.
Local Service Areas for Farm and Fallen Stock Collection
Martlands provides a rapid-response collection service across the North West of England. Our strategic location in Burscough allows our fleet of specialist vehicles to reach farms quickly, ensuring biosecurity is maintained and disposal is handled legally and efficiently.
We provide comprehensive coverage across the following regions:
- Lancashire: Including Ormskirk, Burscough, Skelmersdale, Preston, Chorley, and Blackpool.
- Cheshire: Covering Northwich, Knutsford, Warrington, Chester, and the Wirral.
- South Cumbria: Serving agricultural communities in Kendal, Carnforth, Windermere, and the Furness Peninsula.
- Merseyside & Greater Manchester: Supporting rural fringes across the M6 and M62 corridors.
Professional Waste Management & ABP Disposal
In addition to our specialist farm services, Martlands provides a comprehensive collection and processing for all tiers of Animal By-Products. We operate as a licensed disposal point for businesses across the North West requiring reliable, scheduled waste management and high-standard biosecurity.
Our Food Waste & ABP Services
If you require disposal for commercial, industrial, or agricultural by-products, explore our dedicated services below:
- Category 1 ABP Collection: High-risk animal by-product removal, ensuring total biosecurity and legal compliance.
- Category 2 ABP Collection: Expert handling of Category 2 materials, including fallen stock and manure, for safe disposal or processing.
- Category 3 ABP Collection: Efficient processing of low-risk animal by-products and former foodstuffs.
- Butchers Waste Collection: Specialist collection for abattoirs and butchers’ shops across Lancashire and Cheshire.
- Food Waste Collection: Reliable disposal solutions for supermarkets, restaurants, and food manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How quickly can you collect fallen stock?
Martlands operates a rapid-response service across the North West. We aim to provide a 24-hour collection service to ensure that farm hygiene is maintained and to help you comply with biosecurity regulations.
Do you offer an emergency out-of-hours service?
Yes. We understand that livestock losses don’t always happen during office hours. We provide a 24-hour emergency line for urgent livestock removal, ensuring a fast response when you need it most.
Which areas in the North West do you cover?
Our primary service areas include Lancashire (Ormskirk, Preston, Blackpool), Cheshire (Chester, Warrington, Knutsford), and South Cumbria (Kendal, Carnforth). We also serve the rural fringes of Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Is Martlands a DEFRA approved facility?
Yes. Martlands is a fully licensed and DEFRA-approved sampling centre. We adhere strictly to the Animal By-Products Regulations to ensure all fallen stock is handled, transported, and disposed of legally and safely.
What is a TSE Sampling Centre?
As an approved sampling centre, we are authorised to carry out TSE (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy) brain stem testing on over-age cattle. This is a vital part of UK food safety and disease surveillance.
Do you provide documentation for farm records?
Absolutely. Every collection is accompanied by the necessary commercial documentation. This provides a clear audit trail for your farm records, ensuring you are fully prepared for any local authority or environmental inspections.
What types of livestock do you collect?
We are equipped to handle all types of farm animals, including cattle (both young and over-age), sheep, goats, and pigs, as well as casualty animals.
Do you provide a service for horse and pony disposal?
Yes. We offer a sensitive and professional Equine Cremation and Collection service. We understand that losing a horse is difficult, and we handle every collection with the dignity and respect it deserves.
Can I book through the National Fallen Stock Scheme (NFSS)?
Yes, Martlands is a registered collector under the National Fallen Stock Scheme. You can book our services directly by calling us or via the NFSS member portal.
How is the fallen stock processed?
Following collection in our specialist, leak-proof vehicles, the stock is brought to our licensed processing plant. Depending on the animal type and category, it is processed in full compliance with UK environmental legislation, often being diverted into sustainable rendering or incineration.
Do you have on-site post-mortem facilities?
Yes. We have dedicated facilities available for veterinary post-mortems. This allows your vet to conduct an investigation into the cause of death in a controlled, bio-secure environment, helping you manage the health of the rest of your herd or flock.
What are your biosecurity protocols?
Biosecurity is our top priority. Our drivers are fully trained in disease prevention, and our vehicles are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between every collection to ensure there is no risk of cross-contamination between farms.
Contact Martlands Today
For immediate assistance or to schedule a regular collection, please contact our specialist agricultural team:
Phone: 01704 776977 (24-Hour Emergency Line)
Head Office: 01704 893161
Email: enquiries@martlands.co.uk
Address: Martlands Farm, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0SD