Livestock butchery

[Lukasod5]

Just wondering if any one has experience of dispatching and butchering their own livestock. I ask, as recently my father in law had to put down a calf that had a dislocated hip. As the calf got heavier, the leg got worse and it wasn't going to get better. SO he had a local animal disposal company come and dispatch and take the calf to be destroyed. Watching the situation, it stuck with me, that it was such a waste of the animal and I would have much preferred, to dispatch and butcher it myself. So my question is, has anyone any experience with this and if so the legality and dangers in doing so? I.E that it's only for your consumption and risks of diseases ( BSE and that the spinal cords of cattle must be disposed of correctly).

 

[VSS]

Yes.
Been doing my own slaughter and butchery of domestic livestock for home consumption for about 35 years.
Written books and magazine articles about it, and taught plenty of other people.
PM me if there's stuff you want to know.

 

[Wmjas]

Dunno about BSE but done plenty for personal consumption, it’s not that hard for sheep but cattle you need a tractor for guys and hanging. Ideally 2 guys to one cattle beast makes thing a lot easier.

 

[Lukasod5]

We have the equipment, however it was more about keeping it complaint with regulations. As I would not like her father to have to deal with any repercussions.

 

[finnbear270]

This thread prompted me to wonder about the passport papers or the ear tag things, anything about them with home slaughter?

 

[VSS]

This thread prompted me to wonder about the passport papers or the ear tag things, anything about them with home slaughter?

In the case of cattle you notify the BCMS that the animal has died on farm, and get a receipt for all the waste (head, hide, offal etc) from whichever fallen stock company you use.
There is a potential grey area surrounding the removal and disposal of SRM, but provided none of the meat is utilised outside of the immediate household of the owner, and that the owner was also the person who killed and butchered it, then you're not straying too far into the grey.

 

[finnbear270]

In the case of cattle you notify the BCMS that the animal has died on farm, and get a receipt for all the waste (head, hide, offal etc) from whichever fallen stock company you use.
There is a potential grey area surrounding the removal and disposal of SRM, but provided none of the meat is utilised outside of the immediate household of the owner, and that the owner was also the person who killed and butchered it, then you're not straying too far into the grey.

Learn summat every day!