[Pedwardine]

Following the death of one of our 2012 born ewe lambs last Friday I phoned the local knackers yard who said someone would collect on Monday morning. Nobody has been and it isn't the first time we've been kept waiting. Last time was in the midst of blowfly season and it was too disgusting for words. This time it's a little girl we were terribly fond of and it's just plain upsetting that her wee body hasn't gone. I've covered for the times we've been out of the house or the vicinity of by putting a notice on the door. Obviously I'm going to call them again tomorrow but is this normal behaviour for the people who provide this service? I was put on to this particular lot by the NFSC and they are very reasonable compared to the vulture we dealt with previously but I find it dreadful treatment. Perhaps they think as it's dead there's no need to hurry.

[SallyintNorth]

5+ days certainly sounds excessive; we are used to within 48 hours, often the same day.  But then our area is very much a livestock farming area.

I would certainly ask when booking the collection when they think pickup will be, then at least you've an idea of how long you will have to wait.

[Pedwardine]

They did say Monday. Grrr.

[SallyintNorth]

Sorry, you said that. I would definitely be calling them and asking them to get on with the job.  Maybe there'll be a reason... 

[bigchicken]

The one I use comes out the same day or next at the latest great service from Douglas Bray.

[Pedwardine]

I didn't mean 'grr' at you Sally 

[Anke]

I was under the impression that they have (by law) to pick up carcasses within 48 hours??? At least that what I was told when I first had to use our local one, and so far they have been very good.
 
But I don't think there is anything you can do (other than calling the again).

[twizzel]

Would your local hunt take the body? I know ours will come out that day to pick up any fallen stock... so should a knackerman really but the hunt may be another option.

[Remy]

That's bad service, luckily I have two I can use and both will come very promptly or at least within 24 hours.  Are there no others you can try?  I can imagine how distressing it is to have them lying round for so long especially when they are favourites - I had two I was very fond of in a stable overnight and even though they went the next day it was bad enough!

[lachlanandmarcus]

I would be very unhappy in your situation - we use Douglasbrae too and their record is 2 hours, and it has always been same day, and I don't have to be here as we are Nfsco Registered, have been very impressed.


Not acceptable for it to be that long, it makes a mockery of requiring it to go to designated collector re disease if it sits around that long IMO. Quite apart from the unpleasantness.

[Fleecewife]

We have the 'death barrow' ie a wheelbarrow which we put any corpse in and cover it thoroughly so passing folk can't see what's in there - nor me.  We put it at the gate, so the knackerman can collect it without us being there.  Ours are very good at coming that day or the next.  Obviously it will be more difficult to leave the body out for several days, but if someone tries to steal the barrow they will have a nasty shock.  The barrow has to be disinfected after the collection, handles as well, as knackermen are not reknowned for washing their hands between collections.
 
In order to do as many collections per day as possible and keep waiting times short for everyone, the knackerman will not be able to hang around to try to find you if you are working outside, so it's best to have the body somewhere readily visible and easy for him to collect.
It may sound hard, but once your favourite sheep is dead, it's just another sheep corpse, sad though that may be. 

[Pedwardine]

Well finally the knacker man has collected and he ended up with an extra as our lovely ram lamb Freddie, a GotlandxTeeswater had to be PTS this morning.

[mojocafa]

Sorry to hear that, life's a bitch!