Why disposing of dead stock appropriately is important
- Decomposing dead stock is a source of disease producing bacteria and other organisms, e.g. salmonella, streptococcus and tuberculosis.
- Poor carcass disposal can result in contamination of groundwater and waterways, which may be sources of human and/or stock drinking water.
- Sight and smell of dead animals creates a bad public perception of the dairy industry. Slinks or dead calves can be particularly distressing for the public.
The principles of dead stock management
- Dispose of the animal as soon as possible to reduce risk of disease spread.
- Utilise dead stock collection services if available.
- Do not leave dead stock on the roadside or within public view. Most collection services prefer to pick up inside the farm gate.
- The carcass must not be left within 45m of the farm dairy or within 50m of a water source
- Keep dead stock out of waterways.
Evaluate your disposal options
Collection services are the preferred option. But if there is no collection service available, there are other disposal options to consider.