The slaughter of sheep for private consumption by the owner
(for England and Wales)
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This deals with sheep slaughter outside a licensed slaughterhouse (eg. on a farm). If any sheep is to be slaughtered outside a licensed laughterhouse (eg. on a farm), the owner must observe the following five requirements:
- The sheep must be killed humanely, in accordance with the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter and Killing) Regulations 1995.
- The owner must stain, store, dispose of, etc the specified risk material (SRM) in accordance with the TSE Regulations. Definitions of SRM will depend on the age of the sheep being slaughtered.
- Animal products must be disposed of in accordance with the Animal By-Products Regulations 2005. This is all slaughter waste not destined for human consumption or classed as SRM, including the horns, skins, hooves and blood.
- The carcass 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 sheep must be free of veterinary medicine residues.
No person shall slaughter any sheep by a religious method, or cause or permit any sheep to be so slaughtered elsewhere than in a licensed slaughterhouse.
