Disposal of sheep carcasses

Oct 2 2007 by Gwyn Howells, Western Mail

HYBU Cig Cymru not only markets and promotes Welsh red meat but also works to further develop the Welsh sheep and beef industries. One example of this is the work undertaken with research and development so that Welsh farming businesses can benefit from the findings of essential research projects.

Fallen stock has been a contentious issue within the sheep industry for many years but a study, jointly funded by Hybu Cig Cymru and the Welsh Assembly Government, could create an alternative method of containing fallen stock prior to disposal.

The study, carried out by the University of Wales, Bangor, uses a simple, yet effective method of on-farm containment of fallen stock.

It involves large fibreglass, sealed tanks that are sunk into the ground and half-filled with water. Dead sheep are placed into the tanks after an incision is made through the skin on the belly; and a small quantity of an enzyme-bacteria mix is added with each carcass. After just three months, the dead sheep had been reduced to liquid and it is this liquid that needs to be disposed of in a safe, bio-secure way.

The system under trial cannot at present be legally used on farms as fallen stock must be disposed of in line with the Animal By-Products Regulations (Wales) 2006.

But this alternative method offers improved farm bio-security as frequent visits are not required to collect fallen stock and farmers do not have to deal with the issue of storing carcasses while awaiting collection.

It is anticipated significant cost savings can be made compared to the current method of fallen stock disposal.

If the results from the trial are encouraging WAG and HCC will present them to the EU to seek the inclusion of the process into the Animal By-Products Regulations as an alternative method of dealing with fallen stock.