NFSCo celebrates its 21st milestone with timely biosecurity reminder and new collection sign

If 21 is the coming of age then that’s the milestone NFSCo (The National Fallen Stock Company) will reach in the first week of February. Set up back in in 2004 to ensure fair pricing and competition for fallen stock collections, the unique bespoke business model developed for the sector has stood the test of time, and is unchanged in principle from those formative years, says NFSCo chairman Charles Bourns. He is using the organisation’s anniversary to remind its 43,000+ farmer members of the need for continued or enhanced biosecurity given the threat from the many animal diseases currently circulating. These include Blue Tongue, Avian Influenza (bird flu), Schmallenberg, TB and (further afield, but nonetheless acting as a timely warning against complacency for all) Foot and Mouth Disease. 

As part of this, NFSCo has introduced a new ‘Fallen Stock Collection Point’ sign, which farmers can use to indicate to collectors where all of a farm’s fallen animals will be left for collection. This will result in greater discipline for farm staff, enhanced clarity for collectors, a reduced contact risk from a collector’s vehicle and better farm biosecurity (photo attached.) These can be purchased for £10 plus VAT by contacting member@nfsco.co.uk 

“NFSCo has been fortunate over our 21 years to work with brilliant and extremely professional collectors, tens of thousands of members, and an excellent administration team at Ian Potter 

Marketing Services Limited.  “I would like to thank them all for their commitment to NFSCo,” said Mr Bourns. “If they hadn’t bought into the NFSCo philosophy and our delivery team all those years ago, then we wouldn’t be where we are today, with the collection industry having benefitted massively from the service and improvements in technology introduced over the years.”

“During our history we have faced many challenges, not least disease outbreaks, bad weather disasters, and fiscal challenges, but by working together we have conquered them all. Credit goes to our previous chairman Michael Seals for steering NFSCo through those until his retirement in 2024. 

I, and the rest of the Board, are very proud of our track record, and of helping to turn the collection industry into a modern, efficient, competitive and technology focussed business that has streamlined the collection process and invoicing procedures.  KoLeCt offers a branded app as an alternative paperless booking-in system for collectors, and offers members an app to book their collections in 24/7 and track their progress in real time. [www.nfsco.co.uk/kolect]

Mr Bourns warns against animal disease complacency with all of the current diseases circulating, and with climate change bringing ever greater risks - blue tongue and bird flu being obvious ones. Scientists are warning that shifts in the temperature, rainfall and other factors will influence the type and incidences of disease in both wildlife and domesticated animals by changing the interaction between the pathogens, the vectors, and the animals themselves. Heat stress can also make animals more susceptible to disease.  “It all means we can’t sit back on our laurels. Biosecurity has to be a top priority on farms, so I urge extra vigilance for the future.”

NFSCo CIC is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which effectively means it is run for the benefit of the farming community. Its objective is to facilitate an efficient and competitive nationwide service for the collection and disposal of fallen stock, and does this by working with around 100 fallen stock collectors around the country.

Ends

February 2025

For more information please contact Jane Rockingham at Jane@nfsco.co.uk