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Improvements to free-to-farmer carcase collection service

As of 1 April we have increased the number of haulage companies that will collect livestock carcases from farms free of charge for disease investigation from seven hauliers to 29.

The increase in providers means that carcases can be collected more quickly from farms for delivery to one of our post mortem examination (PME) laboratories, leading to a more efficient service.

We undertake PMEs and sample testing at our six Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs) and through our partner PME providers with the aim of detecting new or re-emerging animal disease threats and identifying changes in endemic disease trends.

Our free-to-farmer carcase collection service is available in England and Wales to farms more than one hour’s drive from either one of our VICs or partner PME providers (http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/surveillance/diagnostic/index.htm).

The service is provided when disease is suspected and PME of the carcase may be of surveillance value. To access the service farmers should contact their vet who in turn should contact the duty vet at their local PME centre. If it is agreed that a PME would be beneficial, one of our VICs or one of our PME providers will undertake this at a subsidised rate, including any further tests that need to be undertaken.

To check where your nearest PME site is use our online postcode search tool: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/postcode/pme.asp.

Further details about post mortems and our services are available here: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/surveillance/diagnostic/pme.htm.