Finding a dead animal on your land is an unfortunate but unavoidable part of life for most farmers in the United Kingdom. Whether you are managing a large mixed livestock operation or a smaller family holding, the death of an animal on your property creates both a practical challenge and a legal obligation that must be addressed promptly and correctly. Martland’s Fallen Stock Collection Service has supported farming businesses across the UK in navigating these situations, and knowing exactly what to do when you discover fallen stock – and understanding what you must not do – is essential for protecting your remaining animals, maintaining regulatory compliance, and preserving the health of your land and the wider environment.
Your Immediate Responsibilities
The first thing to understand is that you are legally required to dispose of fallen stock in an approved manner. Under the Animal By-Products Regulations, farmers cannot simply bury, burn, or leave carcasses on their land without specific approval, and in most practical circumstances, these options are no longer legally available. The regulations exist to prevent the spread of disease, protect groundwater, and maintain public health standards across the agricultural sector.
As soon as you discover a dead animal, your first priority should be to move it away from other livestock if it is safe to do so, and to place it in a location where it can be stored hygienically prior to collection. This means keeping it away from watercourses, field drains, and areas where other animals graze. If the carcass is large or in a difficult location, do not attempt to move it without appropriate equipment – the team at Martland’s Fallen Stock has the vehicles and equipment to collect from challenging locations safely and efficiently.
Safe Temporary Storage
While you are awaiting collection, it is important to store the carcass as safely as possible. Ideally, fallen stock should be placed on a hard, impermeable surface such as a concrete yard where any fluids can be contained and are less likely to contaminate the soil or reach a watercourse. The carcass should be kept covered where possible to deter vermin and reduce odour, and it should be positioned away from public footpaths, rights of way, and areas visible to the public.
In warm weather, deterioration occurs rapidly, so prompt notification to Martland’s Fallen Stock is especially important during the summer months. Martland’s Fallen Stock offers prompt collection to help farmers manage urgent situations, and it is always better to make contact sooner rather than later.
Record-Keeping Requirements
UK regulations require farmers to maintain records of all fallen stock events on their holdings. When an animal dies, you must record the species, identification details where applicable, the date of death, and the date of collection. Martland’s Fallen Stock will provide you with documentation confirming every collection, and this paperwork forms part of your legal record. These records must be kept for a minimum of two years and must be made available for inspection by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) if requested.
Keeping clear, accurate records is not just a legal formality – it is also genuinely useful for farm management purposes. Patterns in fallen stock events can highlight welfare concerns within a herd or flock, prompt a review of feeding or housing practices, and help identify health issues before they escalate into larger problems.
Arranging Collection with Martland’s Fallen Stock
The simplest and most compliant way to manage fallen stock on your farm is to have an established relationship with an approved fallen stock collection service before you need them. Martland’s Fallen Stock is a fully approved and experienced provider, operating purpose-built vehicles within a strictly controlled chain from farm to approved processing facility.
Contacting Martland’s Fallen Stock at short notice is always possible, but having an account in place in advance means that collection can be arranged more quickly and with less stress at what is often already a difficult time. If you farm in a remote or hard-to-access area, it is particularly worth discussing your situation with Martland’s Fallen Stock in advance, so that the best collection arrangements for your specific holding can be agreed upon before they are urgently needed.
Professional fallen stock collection is the cornerstone of responsible farm biosecurity and regulatory compliance. By understanding your obligations and working with Martland’s Fallen Stock, you can ensure that every fallen stock event on your holding is handled correctly, efficiently, and with the minimum disruption to your farming operation.
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
