When a Martland’s Fallen Stock collection vehicle leaves your farm, the process of compliant, regulated disposal is only just beginning. Understanding what happens to livestock carcasses after collection provides important reassurance that the materials are being handled responsibly, and helps farmers appreciate the regulated system they are participating in. From the moment a carcass is collected by Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service to the point at which it reaches an approved processing facility, every step of the journey is governed by strict regulatory requirements.
The Collection Vehicle and Chain of Custody
Martland’s Fallen Stock operates purpose-built vehicles designed to transport animal by-products safely and hygienically. These vehicles are licensed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and operate under strict rules about the routes they take and the facilities they deliver to. When the Martland’s Fallen Stock team arrives at your farm, they will complete documentation recording the collection – including the species, approximate weight, and your holding details. This documentation forms part of the traceability chain that follows the material all the way to its final processing destination, and a copy is provided to you for your records.
Categories and Processing Routes
The processing route for fallen stock depends on the category of animal by-product involved. Most fallen livestock – cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry – are classified as Category 2 animal by-products, which means they must be processed at an approved Category 2 processing facility. The primary processing method for Category 2 material is rendering, a high-temperature process that destroys pathogens and converts the raw material into safe outputs, including meat and bone meal and animal fats.
In some cases, particularly for high-risk Category 1 material – which includes specific risk materials from cattle – incineration at an approved facility may be the required processing route. Martland’s Fallen Stock has the knowledge and approvals to handle both Category 1 and Category 2 materials correctly, ensuring that every carcass collected reaches the right processing destination.
The Rendering Process
Rendering is the most common processing method for Category 2 fallen stock collected by Martland’s Fallen Stock. At an approved rendering plant, carcasses are processed at high temperatures – typically above 133 degrees Celsius under pressure – for a defined time period that is scientifically validated to destroy all known pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and prions. The resulting products – meat and bone meal and rendered animal fat – are safe, regulated materials that can be used in approved applications, including fertiliser and energy generation.
The rendering process is highly regulated and subject to ongoing monitoring and inspection by the APHA. This level of regulatory oversight assures that fallen stock collected by Martland’s Fallen Stock is being processed in a genuinely safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Why the System Matters
The regulated fallen stock collection and processing system exists for important reasons. Without it, the risk of disease spreading from dead livestock to live animals – and potentially to humans – would be significantly higher. The traceability chain established by Martland’s Fallen Stock from farm to processing facility means that if a disease incident is identified at any point, the origin and destination of potentially affected material can be traced quickly and accurately.
For farmers, working with Martland’s Fallen Stock is not just a legal obligation – it is a genuine contribution to the health and safety of the wider agricultural sector. Every collection arranged correctly through Martland’s Fallen Stock strengthens the integrity of the UK’s disease surveillance and control infrastructure and represents a responsible and professional approach to farm management.
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
