mmg.com.au

The Stanhope-based company told farmers from March 1 it would only collect calves when there was a cow pick-up at the property or if the farmer had paid a six-month ‘calf-only’ pick-up service fee of $150.

Director Peter Chomley said the change was made in response to costs associated with rising numbers of ‘calf-only’ pick-ups in some areas during the past four years and there was limited financial return for ‘calf-only’ pick-ups.

‘‘We had to do something to address the endless growth of that business,’’ Mr Chomley said.

‘‘The charge seemed a reasonable approach to take.’’

The company said it needed to manage the business to ensure it could continue to provide an efficient stock removal service.

Auld’s Stock Removal Service picked up stock from 3000 different farmers last year from across northern Victoria and the southern Riverina. Mr Chomley said ‘calf-only’ pick-ups applied to about 800 of those customers.

He said Auld’s Stock Removal Service had received many calls about the changes and about 80 per cent of the responses had been positive.

‘‘There are some disgruntled farmers,’’ he said.

Other Victorian stock removal providers said they understood the changes because the cost pressures affected the whole industry.

The Environment Protection Authority’s Victoria farm waste management guidelines say dead stock should be sent to the knackery or rendering plant for reuse or to an appropriately licensed landfill for disposal. If this is not possible, limited numbers of dead stock can be buried on a farm, as long as the burial site does not adversely impact the land, surface waters, groundwater or the air (odour).

If left in paddocks, dead stock can be a potential disease risk and could contaminate land and water.

The dead stock from intensive animal industries such as piggeries, feedlots and broiler or egg farms must not be buried on a farm without the Environment Protection Authority’s approval. For more information, contact Environment Protection Authority or DPI.