The NFU in Cumbria is trying to dispel myths within the farming community that the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) dictates the prices that collectors are now charging.

In Cumbria, members have raised concerns regarding the price being charged for collection. Three collectors are offering a service in Cumbria on identical pricing scales for the different species and categories.

An NFU meeting took place with local farmers where NFSCo chairman Michael Seals was in attendance. As a result he has this week written to the collectors operating under the scheme in order to clarify the situation with regards to the cost of collections.

Mr Seals said: "One of the concerns that was raised with me at a recent meeting with Cumbrian farmers was the pricing for collection of livestock under the scheme by the region's companies.

"Those present expressed concern at the similarity of the prices being charged and wanted reassurance from me that NFSCo was not dictating prices. I can categorically say that we are not."

Mr Seals promised to get those present an answer as to why the prices were similar and said he wanted them to have a choice with regards to price.

NFU Cumbrian county chairman Alistair Mackintosh and NFU Livestock Commodity Board chairman Thomas Binns are pleased that Mr Seals is attempting to restore clarity to the situation and have said they will help in any way they can.

Although Mr Mackintosh told Mr Seals that he felt the NFSCo should be accountable to its members and that it should make sure it is more proactive with managing the price structure so that its members get value for money.

Initially the Government predicted that the alternative disposal of animals in the UK would cost somewhere in the region of £25m per year.

The National Fallen Stock Company was established with the task of designing a scheme, to incorporate £30m in Government monies, via which farmers would have access to the alternative disposal methods.

In their attempts to do so, the actual cost of disposal has been placed at a figure of £47m. So as a result of this legislation everyone in the livestock sector has a cost to bear that they did not originally have.

It also became apparent during their investigations that the historic migration of livestock from the east to the west coast has resulted in a variation in the infrastructure of collectors across the UK in terms of availability.