Farm animal and poultry pathology
We offer post mortem examination services for farm animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, deer, poultry, game birds, rabbits, alpacas and llamas.
Case submission
Submissions are only accepted from the farm’s veterinary practice, and each case must be discussed with the duty pathologist first. Potential zoonoses must be considered and discussed.
Please contact us on 07813 537 686 to discuss your case. Our telephones are open for submission requests and queries from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Deliveries of submissions are accepted from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, following triage of the case with a pathologist.
Once the submission is confirmed:
Please note:
- animals dead for more than 48 hours will NOT be accepted
- animals dead for more than 24 hours may not be accepted
- frozen or predated carcases may not be accepted
- a maximum of three mammals and five bird carcases can be submitted together from a single disease incident on each farm
- clinical history may suggest submission of samples to a laboratory is more suitable. For example, faecal samples to investigate diarrhoea. Read the Disease Diagnosis at APHA Guidance for more information.
- the standard fallen stock disposal fee will be charged for all carcasses, including any received without prior agreement between the submitting veterinary surgeon and the duty pathologist. Postal submissions should be sent to your preferred testing laboratory.
- we only accept cases submitted by veterinary surgeons and after discussion with the duty pathologist
APHA submissions
We are a third-party provider for the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Suitable submissions will be investigated as part of the surveillance contract with APHA and laboratory testing for these cases may be included at no extra cost.
Farmed livestock that may be suitable for subsidised PME for surveillance include alpacas, cattle, deer, game birds, goats, llamas, pigs, poultry, rabbits, sheep and water buffalo.
The area covered by Nottingham Farm Animal Pathology Service for the APHA can be found on their website. Please use the postcode finder to determine if a carcase is eligible for free carcase collection.
Get in touch
If you have a farm or poultry pathology enquiry please email our team or call 07813 537 686 or 0115 951 6743.
Our telephones are open for submission requests and queries from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.