Older Cattle Disposal Scheme

monica waltho · Post by **monica waltho** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:31 am

I dont know if anyone has used this sheme yet or are thinking of doing so but I thought I would share my experience with you especially if you have old cows and care what happens to them. My nearest one is Redferns near Buxton you need to plan well ahead- I spoke to them today and the soonest they can except any cattle is end of March.He has had people bringing them as far a way as Angelsey and Melton Mowbray because there are so few abbatoirs doing this scheme and they have a quota of 250 cattle.There are supposed to be 800,000 cattle over 10 in the Uk.

If like me you want to know that the cattle are killed that day or I actually want to be there ring the abbatoir the day beforehand and check what time you need to arrive at.
The staff there are extremely kind and if you discuss things beforehand they will try and help you .
At present you are paid £246.71 this is set at the beginnig at of the month depending on the exchange rate.If an animal has an accident it can be put down at home and still be eligible ie break a leg but you need to get a vet to certify this. My cow supposedly did not qualify but they will collect free of charge which was something. I assume if you prefer to put down at home even if they were fit to travel you could and they would be no charge but no OCDS payment which is what I was thinking of doing with Polly any way.But do check on that first .But sometimes money is not everything.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 1:04 pm

I also have been wondering about this - head in sand rather but killing at home seems the best option if the collection is free (s'pose that is due to BSE testing) our local abattoir cannot take OTMs either so costs of transportation must eat into the £247
Jo

groubearfarm · Post by **groubearfarm** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:55 pm

I had to have my dearest old cow put to sleep in the Autumn and as she had served me well money wasn't an issue, I phoned and the lorry came out within 24 hours, they phoned to tell me when they were coming and a very understanding chap came out and put her down while I was talking to her on her halter. I left him to load her and all was very peaceful but with absolute minimum stress to her, or me for that matter.
Fiona

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:45 pm

I,too, have a 16 and 17 year old that I want a dignified end for. Our nearest place from York is a place in Cumbria, so the amount of travelling is ruled out for welfare and diesel costs ( as I would not want them to go to a colllecting centre.)
A word of warning, though. The OCDS payment is only given to those considered "fit for human consumption" EVEN THOUGH they are not to go into the human food chain!
I enquired whether a 16 & 17 year old could possibly be considered fit for consumption, even though they are well bar arthritis. The answer was that they would require an inspection and those that fail donot get OCDS payment. This applies to all cattle entered for the scheme. So you may take every effort to get your cattle there and to be treated properly, only to find out that they are not considered eligible to enter the scheme and that you might as well have had them put down at home and removed for free.