Bluetongue Rules - What They Actually - Mean for Fallen Stock Collection

 

Right then, we've been getting quite a few calls about bluetongue restrictions lately, so we thought we'd clear up the confusion. The Welsh Government has updated their rules, and there's some important stuff you need to know - especially about what applies to fallen stock collection and what doesn't

What's Actually Happening

From June 20th, Wales introduced active transmission period measures, and from July 1st, the entire England becomes a Bluetongue Restricted Zone. Now before you start panicking about whether we can still collect your fallen stock - these restrictions are specifically about live animal movements, not dead stock collection.

The Crucial Bit - Live vs Dead Stock

Live Stock Movements - these are now restricted. Any live ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer) or camelids (llamas, alpacas) moving from England's Bluetongue Restricted Zone to Wales now need a specific movement licence from gov.uk, valid pre-movement testing at the keeper's expense, and animals showing clinical signs cannot move at all.

Dead Stock Collection - this is business as usual. Fallen stock collection is not covered by these movement restrictions. We can still collect from all our service areas across Wales and England, dead animals can still be brought to our Knighton depot without any bluetongue-related restrictions, and our collection service continues exactly as normal.

Why This Matters

The bluetongue restrictions are designed to prevent the spread of disease through live animal movements. Fallen stock disposal is actually part of the solution to disease control, not part of the problem. The Welsh Government guidance specifically focuses on live animal movements between restricted zones, vaccination requirements for live animals, testing protocols for live animals, and biosecurity for live animal premises. None of these restrictions apply to fallen stock collection and disposal.

What You Need to Know

If you're a farmer with fallen stock, call us as normal on 01547 528654. There's no additional paperwork or restrictions, it's the same professional, reliable service across our entire coverage area, and our vehicles continue to operate under existing APHA approval and biosecurity protocols.

If you're moving live animals, check the gov.uk website for current movement licence requirements and speak to your vet about pre-movement testing. This is completely separate from any fallen stock collection needs.

The Tachnical Bit

Bluetongue virus affects live ruminants and is spread by biting midges, not through fallen stock disposal. The virus transmission occurs through infected midges biting live animals, movement of infected live animals, and biological products from live animals. Fallen stock collection and disposal operates under separate APHA regulations and biosecurity protocols that are designed specifically for safe handling and disposal of animal by-products.

So there you have it - bluetongue movement restrictions are for the live ones, not the fallen stock. We're still here, still collecting, and still following all the proper APHA protocols that keep everything safe and controlled.

If you've got fallen stock that needs collecting, don't worry about bluetongue restrictions - they simply don't apply to us. The rules are there to stop disease spreading through live animal movements, and proper fallen stock disposal is actually part of keeping everything safe and controlled.

Any questions about our collection service? Give us a call on 01547 528654. Questions about moving live animals? Check gov.uk or speak to your vet.

Stay safe out there, and remember - when in doubt about live animal health, call your vet first!

F. M. Caine & Sons
01547 528654