Lamb rejected by abattoir after being sold in live action?

[taff]

New one for me today ,I had the local market ring up and say that a lamb I'd sold mid week had been rejected by the abattoir due to tape worm infection and I wouldn't be getting paid for it!? These weren't crap lambs they made top price although I know there are no visual signs of a tape worm infection. Is it common practice for the market not to pay you anything in this situation? Iv sold thousands of lambs dead and live and never had a whole carcass rejected or any real problem with tape worm. I also thought that in a live action this was just the risk the buyer's took?? Any thoughts?

 

[Plain steer]

Tell the auctioneer if they want your business in future to pay up

 

[gone up the hill]

New one for me today ,I had the local market ring up and say that a lamb I'd sold mid week had been rejected by the abattoir due to tape worm infection and I wouldn't be getting paid for it!? These weren't crap lambs they made top price although I know there are no visual signs of a tape worm infection. Is it common practice for the market not to pay you anything in this situation? Iv sold thousands of lambs dead and live and never had a whole carcass rejected or any real problem with tape worm. I also thought that in a live action this was just the risk the buyer's took?? Any thoughts?

Store or prime ring??

If in the prime ring you will have signed the FCI form to say its fit for the food chain so if its binned you will have to re- imburse the buyer of the price paid and any costs they have incurred.

In the store ring unless its under med's and you haven't signed to that effect its the buyers loss.

 

[milkloss]

I’ve had a few issues with cattle sold at auction over the years and it’s usually dealt with negotiation. what did crop up a time or two was if I wanted to have buyers then it was reasonable to offer some recompense.

 

[taff]

Store or prime ring??

If in the prime ring you will have signed the FCI form to say its fit for the food chain so if its binned you will have to re- imburse the buyer of the price paid and any costs they have incurred.

In the store ring unless its under med's and you haven't signed to that effect its the buyers loss.

That's a really good point but how am I supposed to know if it's got a tape worm problem? As said these lambs were good lambs. Also would it have meant the whole carcass being chucked?

 

[taff]

I’ve had a few issues with cattle sold at auction over the years and it’s usually dealt with negotiation. what did crop up a time or two was if I wanted to have buyers then it was reasonable to offer some recompense.

True I am not gonna split hairs over one lamb and the buyer in question is a big one so don't wanna upset them it just seems odd as haven't had any tape worm problems before. It makes you feel bad but how was I supposed to know it had a problem

 

[Nithsdale]

Isn't there market insurance for the likes of this?

FCI form is a declaration it's fit for human consumption meaning free from drug/medicine withdrawals. You can't see inside a living animal...

 

[gone up the hill]

That's a really good point but how am I supposed to know if it's got a tape worm problem? As said these lambs were good lambs. Also would it have meant the whole carcass being chucked?

Nothing you could have done, just bad luck.

Just because it looks healthy doesn't mean there isn't some problem that you cant see which will mean it will end up binned when it goes up the line.

Count yourself lucky its a £80 lamb and not a £1500 steer/ heifer as I know people with the latter who have had them binned and the insurance didn't cover it!

Most markets now deduct an insurance levy in the prime rings to cover if they get binned.

I had one binned 3/4 years ago due to dog worm, looked healthy enough when it was sold, came back it had gone into the meat and not the brain so of course there was no signs it was infected when sold.

 

[taff]

Isn't there market insurance for the likes of this?

FCI form is a declaration it's fit for human consumption meaning free from drug/medicine withdrawals. You can't see inside a living animal...

Nothing you could have done, just bad luck.

Just because it looks healthy doesn't mean there isn't some problem that you cant see which will mean it will end up binned when it goes up the line.

Count yourself lucky its a £80 lamb and not a £1500 steer/ heifer as I know people with the latter who have had them binned and the insurance didn't cover it!

Most markets now deduct an insurance levy in the prime rings to cover if they get binned.

Thanks fair point about being lucky it's only £80. Might raise the insurance point if I am having a bad day on Monday as they get quite a lot of our business but it might not be worth the hassle

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Store or prime ring??

If in the prime ring you will have signed the FCI form to say its fit for the food chain so if its binned you will have to re- imburse the buyer of the price paid and any costs they have incurred.

In the store ring unless its under med's and you haven't signed to that effect its the buyers loss.

You sign to say;
" To the best of my knowledge the animals are not showing signs of any disease or condition that may affect the safety of the meat derived from them"

That was true.

There can be no legal obligation for you to reimburse the buyer who takes responsibility at the fall of the hammer.

 

[Nithsdale]

Thanks fair point about being lucky it's only £80. Might raise the insurance point if I am having a bad day on Monday as they get quite a lot of our business but it might not be worth the hassle

I can't recall ever having anything coming back after selling live... but I put a lot of lambs away direct (through local market) and I've had 2 rejected in the last 10 or so years - the market paid me, in full, both times because it's all insured. Can't see why going live they wouldn't be.

 

[hubbahubba]

I had a cast cow binned years ago as there was abscesses over its body. Nobody could say why this was but no matter what i said i got f all for it. They all get sold with insurance now so this doesnt happen anymore.

 

[bobajob]

A while ago I had a lamb die in the pens at the market before it was sold (a right good fat lamb it was too)
I thought it would be insured while on their premises, but I suppose it would be different if it was their premises that killed it ie a gate falling on it etc.
Anyway auctioneer said no chance!

It was a bit embarrassing dragging it out through the loading banks and back into my trailer!!

 

[digger64]

New onif not me today ,I had the local market ring up and say that a lamb I'd sold mid week had been rejected by the abattoir due to tape worm infection and I wouldn't be getting paid for it!? These weren't crap lambs they made top price although I know there are no visual signs of a tape worm infection. Is it common practice for the market not to pay you anything in this situation? Iv sold thousands of lambs dead and live and never had a whole carcass rejected or any real problem with tape worm. I also thought that in a live action this was just the risk the buyer's took?? Any thoughts?

Did the meat inspector take photos and contact you if not ask why not ?

 

[gone up the hill]

You sign to say;
" To the best of my knowledge the animals are not showing signs of any disease or condition that may affect the safety of the meat derived from them"

That was true.

There can be no legal obligation for you to reimburse the buyer who takes responsibility at the fall of the hammer.

As the seller you are stating that the meat is safe as far as can reasonably be known, if what you say is correct then the FCI form isn't worth the paper its written on ( be that at market or when you send them deadweight )

If you don't want to sign the form then sell them in the store ring because in the prime ring the market would not be able to sell them as prime lambs/ cattle if the form is not signed.

Also would anyone buy them anyway if the vendor wouldn't stand by them?

 

[gone up the hill]

Did the meat inspector take photos and contact you if not ask why not ?

The OP should defo be given a copy of the kill sheet showing that the lamb had been binned.

 

[Nithsdale]

 

[Nithsdale]

Lifted from;

Food chain information | Business Companion

If you take animals to an abattoir you must supply food chain information (FCI) before the animals can be accepted for slaughter

www.businesscompanion.info

 

[bluepower]

As the seller you are stating that the meat is safe as far as can reasonably be known, if what you say is correct then the FCI form isn't worth the paper its written on ( be that at market or when you send them deadweight )

If you don't want to sign the form then sell them in the store ring because in the prime ring the market would not be able to sell them as prime lambs/ cattle if the form is not signed.

Also would anyone buy them anyway if the vendor wouldn't stand by them?

It strikes me there is a problem here that needs adressing here by the auctioneers who have no doubt deducted their commission from the lamb.

I had an issue last year when I sent a pen of killing ewes to the live market on one of the hottest days of the year. The day after the auction I was called by the auctioneers who said that one of my ewes had died in the pen during the night. They deducted the value of the ewe from my cheque but still charged commision for selling it! I thought that the sheep should not have been kept in market the night after the auction without food or acess to water. Makes farm assurance a total farce in my eyes? Anyway I just put up and shut up but feel I was well and truely done over. Double standards or what. Whose responsbility at the fall of the hammer?

 

[Jackov Altraids]

As the seller you are stating that the meat is safe as far as can reasonably be known, if what you say is correct then the FCI form isn't worth the paper its written on ( be that at market or when you send them deadweight )

If you don't want to sign the form then sell them in the store ring because in the prime ring the market would not be able to sell them as prime lambs/ cattle if the form is not signed.

Also would anyone buy them anyway if the vendor wouldn't stand by them?

There are 4 points to the F.C.I which you confirm the consignment satisfies and it is certainly worth the paper it is written on as the other 3 points are a binary matter of fact;

1) Are you subject to movement restrictions

2)Out of any withdrawal periods

3) Showing any signs of potential issues

4) Have any tests been conducted to show the meat might not be safe

Whether you wish to stand by your stock in such circumstances is your choice.

The auctioneer hasn't given the seller a choice.