The slaughter of cattle for private consumption by the owner
(for England and Wales)
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Whether or not an owner is permitted to kill cattle for private consumption depends on the cattle’s date of birth, whether it has a valid cattle passport and whether the slaughter takes place, outside or inside a licensed slaughterhouse. For cattle eligible for slaughter outside a licensed slaughterhouse (such as on farm), the owner must observe the following requirements:
- the animals must be killed humanely, in accordance with the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations
- the owner must stain, store, dispose of, etc, the specified risk material (SRM) in accordance with the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations - definitions of SRM will depend on the age of the animal being slaughtered
- BSE testing should be undertaken as follows:
a) via delivery of the head to a VLA Regional Laboratory or by arranging for a suitably trained person to take a sample and sending it to a VLA Regional Laboratory or to a private approved laboratory (there would be a charge for these services) or
b) via delivery of the head to an approved BSE sampling site for fallen cattle, where the operator of the site will collect a sample and send it to an approved laboratory - animal by-products must be disposed of in accordance with the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations - this is all slaughter waste not destined for human consumption or classed as SRM, including the horns, hides, hooves, and blood
- the spinal column must not be split - it must be removed whole and disposed of as SRM
- the carcase or any product of animal origin must not be offered for sale to a third party or the public. This includes giving away to friends, relatives, etc.
- the animal must be free of veterinary medicine residues
