DISPOSING of fallen stock is likely to become more expensive despite the introduction of a Government-subsidised collection scheme.

Robinson Mitchell Ltd of Ingleton which collects and renders most of the farm animals in Cumbria that have died on-farm because of age or disease is considering a price rise.

Director Simon Robinson said bills could well go up because of a massive increase in the cost of diesel and the collapse of leather prices.

Any increased charges were nothing to do with the launch of the National Fallen Stock Collection Scheme, he stressed, which the company would be joining.

From November 22, the Government-backed initiative will see farmers who sign-up to the scheme receive a 30 per cent contribution from the public purse for the costs of collecting dead farm animals. Farmers have been waiting for this scheme since the EU Animal By-Products Regulation banned the routine on-farm burial and burning of animal carcasses on May 1, 2003. However, The National Pig Association said there was evidence to suggest renderers in some parts of the country had upped prices ahead of the scheme, thereby wiping-out the advantages of the subsidy to farmers.

Renderers themselves said any price rises were unrelated to the scheme, an argument repeated by Robinsons this week.

Mr Robinson said: "Diesel is 86p per litre at the moment. It wasn't long ago the price was in the 60s. It's a massive increase."

The firm was also having to reassess picking-up calves for free, he added. It used to be economical since renderers could typically fetch £8 or £9 per skin on the leather market. But prices have dropped to £4 a skin, partly because of strong foreign competition from China, yet disposing of the calve's body still costs £3.

Meanwhile, the county's other principal collecter of fallen stock, the Vale of Lune Harriers, will continue to pick-up dead animals from farms for free as a member of the National Fallen Stock Collection Scheme. Master of the Vale of Lune Hunt Clive Richardson said the Government's acceptance of EU regulations had unnecessary undermined an efficient collection service that hunts had provided free of charge for hundreds of years.

********************************** FROM this week, farmers can join the long-awaited National Fallen Stock Collection Scheme. Letters are going out with details of how to register. Any queries will be fielded by a national helpline on 0845-054-8888. For an annual subscription fee of £28 farmers will get to choose from a list of local collectors who will charge fixed prices. For each collection the collector will invoice the National Fallen Stock Company whose payment in return will comprise 70 per cent from the farmer, collected by direct debit, plus the 30 per cent Government contribution. The British Cattle Movement Service in Workington will be handling the payments.