Farmers warn trail hunting ban would end 'irreplaceable' fallen stock service
A brother and sister who farm livestock in the Midlands say England’s fallen stock scheme is one of the most important services in the county for rural welfare, and that a government ban on trail hunting would shut it down with no adequate replacement.
Richard and Lyn Smith of Hill House Farm in Warwickshire say the scheme run by the Warwickshire Hunt provides a level of care, speed and local understanding that no commercial alternative can match — and that its loss would be felt across the county's farming community in ways the government has not begun to consider.
The scheme offers livestock farmers swift collection of fallen animals and, where necessary, humane euthanasia, at a reduced shared cost among member farmers. It operates on the basis of local knowledge and trusted relationships built up over years, meaning that when a farmer calls, the response comes from someone who knows the land, the animals and the emotional weight of the moment.
"When livestock are suffering due to illness or injury, swift and humane euthanasia is essential to prevent unnecessary pain," Richard and Lyn said. "The scheme ensures prompt, respectful action which enables farmers to act quickly to take the best action for their stock. It reduces delays that would prolong an animal's suffering and reinforces high welfare standards across the wider farming community."
Farming, they emphasise, is not simply a commercial enterprise. The mental health pressures on livestock farmers are real and underacknowledged, and the psychological dimension of losing an animal — and knowing it has been treated with dignity — matters as much as the practical one. "Farming is a lonely and sometimes very depressing job. There are lots of us struggling in more ways than just financial," they said. "It helps us psychologically to know that no matter what, you did your very best."
The Smiths are clear that livestock are not commodities. "They are part of the family, the result of careful breeding, daily care and usually lifelong commitment. Having local contacts who recognise and understand this fragile balance and unique relationship makes such a significant difference. As a farmer you can rely on a familiar face in your most desperate of times who will respond with professionalism, empathy and respect."
Beyond animal welfare and emotional support, the scheme serves important environmental and financial functions. Unmanaged carcasses pose risks to watercourses, soil and local ecosystems. The shared-cost model provides financial predictability in an industry where margins are tight and income is unpredictable. "By easing the financial burden, it allows us to focus resources on the most important parts — animal health and productivity," Richard and Lyn said.
They describe the scheme as the countryside's "fourth emergency service" — as essential to Warwickshire's rural communities as any statutory provision. Its continuation, they argue, depends entirely on the survival of trail hunting.
The warning comes as the government's consultation on banning trail hunting remains open. Richard and Lyn are among a growing number of Warwickshire farmers who say the consequences of a ban extend far beyond the hunt itself and into services and community structures that most people outside the farming world have never considered. "Many people will never have comprehended the impact of losing the fallen stock scheme if trail hunting stops," they said. "We are deeply concerned by this issue for what it would mean to us, our animals and so many others like us nationally."
The government has not set out what, if any, provision would be made for services currently provided by hunt-affiliated organisations in the event of a ban.