The Fallen Stock Scheme
Uploaded May 2005

I had hoped that we would not be needing to use this for a long time, it was not to be. Pan came down poorly on the Friday night you know the sort of thing, nothing you can put your finger on she was just of colour not very hungry didn't quite clear up. By Saturday feed time she was dead. T hat was a shock in itself but worse was to come. Lew phoned the collection people at breakfast only to be told that the earliest pick up would be the beginning of the following week, 'but we'll get back to you and let you know tomorrow'. So Sunday came and went and Lew rang again on Monday: 'sorry we have not rung back, the message did not get passed on. The earliest we can get to you now will be tomorrow (tues)'.

They were picking up from two more farms and then they would be with us. When they came they came in an ordinary cattle truck with a winch fitted, backed down and picked her up, there was a dead calf and a sheep already on and off they went.

What happened to the pick up of the side of the road and there was no disinfecting done before or after. It is the first and last time that we are going to use it under those conditions. There is at the moment a local hunt kennels that will dispose of the carcass if you get it to them. So we have decided to invest in a small sealed trailer and we will then deliver the pig to them for disposal, the cost of that will be £15 and no waiting around. The invoice for this has yet to arrive but Lew worked it out to about £30 and that's with the discount from the government I feel at the moment its just more red tape and money out of our pockets. And money in our business does not fall of trees.

Sharon Barnfield,
Newsletter Editor