The Animal Collectors Association (ACA) is calling on farmers to take all necessary actions to keep themselves and knackery operators safe during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Animal disposal is listed as an essential service during Level 5 restrictions and the ACA wants to keep interaction between people to a minimum.

“The ACA is requesting that the keeper/farmer, where possible, leaves the fallen animal in an accessible location on their holding, along with relevant passport, paperwork and payment in an agreed location between both parties,” a spokesperson for the ACA told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“The knackery operator in turn can leave the keeper’s paperwork in this location.”

The peak animal disposal period is approaching, coinciding with the busy lambing and calving season.