Livestock disposal scheme trial begins

ONE thing for certain in farming is that when you have livestock, you’re bound to have deadstock, and disposing of them is a necessary part of farm life.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is urging the Victorian government to step up and deliver immediate support to drought-affected livestock producers by introducing a targeted rebate scheme for fallen stock collection costs.

The VFF has made the request as it continues to work to ensure a long-term, sustainable solution for animal disposal across the state.

The call comes as a new user-pays trial for fallen stock services begins across western Victoria from June 2025, following sustained VFF advocacy to keep the service running in the face of mounting financial pressures.

The trial will implement the following fee structure:

$50 per head paid to farmers for standing, live cows

$200 per pickup paid by farmers for deceased stock (depending on size)

VFF livestock president Scott Young said the VFF had actively worked with service provider Loc Rivett and Agriculture Victoria to prevent a complete collapse of the system, but now warned the government must intervene.

“We absolutely need this service, and we’ve helped keep it operating.

“Clearly the provider has decided to introduce a service fee and we’re calling on the government to step in and help cover the costs in this time of drought.”

“We are calling for a rebate scheme to offset collection costs for producers in declared drought-affected areas.

“Anything less is a failure to support animal welfare and on-farm biosecurity during crisis conditions.”

The VFF understands it is a complex issue and has been working with the provider, government and farmers behind the scenes for months to ensure there is a service for farmers to use.

“This vital service remains at an added cost and we think the government needs to step in and cover these added fees,” Mr Young said.

The VFF has consistently flagged the risks of inadequate fallen stock infrastructure, including animal welfare breaches, biosecurity exposure, and environmental harm, and is working closely with stakeholders to design a fit-for-purpose system, but insists producers must not be left carrying the financial burden alone.

United Dairy Farmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said the trial was a step in the right direction, but was missing the financial element to ensure drought-stricken farmers aren’t made to absorb extra costs.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure producers still have access to a collection service, but affordability in times of drought remains a major concern and we can’t lose focus of that.

“We’re asking the government to commit funding for a rebate model that recognises the regional impact of drought and helps keep farmers compliant without punishing them financially.”