Deadstock has to be left in public view

Farmers in the north-west of England are struggling to get dead stock moved off farms as the service provided by the National Fallen Stock Company continues to falter.

Some animals are lying in yards for up to two weeks before being collected and in some remote hill farming areas the NFU is receiving SOS calls from farmers who say they are not getting any collection service at all.

rspca

One farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, told Farmers Weekly that he had been reported to the RSPCA for leaving dead sheep in the yard, despite having telephoned his local collector many times to have the animals removed.

But as more walkers and tourists hit the Lake District in the midst of lambing, farmers have no option but to leave carcasses in full view of the public.

“We can”t always be around the yard when the wagon comes so we’ve got to leave fallen stock in places where they can be easily found – but that means any member of the public can see them too, and that’s when we end up being reported to the RSPCA.”

North-west farmers are calling for the collection company to be more accountable for the organisational problems it seems unable to sort out. They say it had six months to prepare itself and yet six months into the scheme it seems to be no better organised.

West Cumbria farmer Alistair Mackintosh, north-west NFU chairman, said it was “very disturbing” for farmers when they were forced to leave dead animals lying around for so long.

chaos

“I”ve some sympathy for Michael Seals and the Fallen Stock Company but he can”t keep blaming the chaos on market forces. If we”re putting faith in this scheme it must be accountable and give farmers the reassurance that it can meet its obligations. If not we need to know why,” said Mr Mackintosh.

Farmers Weekly has received numerous phone calls from farmers who say they are tired of being “fobbed off” by the collection company and told to contact its helpline if they have a problem.