Dead Cattle & Livestock Removal — Northern IL & Southern WI
Brier Hill Livestock Removal provides prompt, professional removal of deceased cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, and all farm livestock across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. We protect your farm, your herd, and your compliance — 24/7, 365 days a year.
Same-Day Service
Calls before noon receive same-day pickup. Emergencies dispatched immediately. A dead animal on your farm is a health hazard — we move fast.
Heavy Equipment Ready
We have the trucks, winches, and loaders necessary to handle bulls, large sows, and other heavy animals — no job is too big.
Compliant Disposal
IDOA-licensed and Wisconsin DATCP compliant. Every pickup is documented. We handle rendering transport and other approved disposal methods.
Protecting Your Farm Through Prompt Removal
When a cow, bull, or other large livestock animal dies on your farm, every hour matters. Decomposing carcasses pose serious biosecurity risks to the rest of your herd, attract predators and scavengers, and create regulatory compliance issues under Illinois and Wisconsin law. The longer a carcass remains, the more difficult it becomes to manage — and the greater the risk of disease spread, particularly if the cause of death was infectious.
Brier Hill Livestock Removal is equipped to handle cattle of all sizes, including large beef bulls and dairy cows that can exceed 1,500–2,000 pounds. We use specialized winches and loaders where necessary and can navigate challenging farm layouts including narrow barn alleys, soft or muddy fields, and remote pastures.
We serve dairy operations, beef cattle farms, hog confinements, small hobby farms, and everything in between. Whether you have one animal or need a multi-animal pickup after a weather or disease event, we respond quickly and handle the logistics completely.
Rendering for Cattle: The Best Environmental Option
For most cattle that die of natural causes or illness (rather than euthanasia), rendering is the preferred disposal method. Rendering facilities convert the carcass into useful commercial products — tallow, meat and bone meal, and other materials — with virtually no waste. It is the most environmentally sustainable large-scale livestock disposal method available.
Note that for cattle over 30 months of age, USDA regulations related to BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) apply to certain tissue types. We are aware of these requirements and handle older cattle in compliance with applicable rules.
Livestock We Remove
- Dairy Cows — All breeds — Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, Brown Swiss
- Beef Cattle — Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, and more
- Bulls — Including large breeding bulls over 2,000 lbs
- Calves & Veal — Newborns to yearlings
- Pigs & Hogs — Market hogs, sows, boars, piglets
- Sheep — All breeds and sizes
- Goats — Dairy goats, meat goats, Boer, Nigerian Dwarf
- Llamas — All ages and sizes
- Alpacas — Huacaya and Suri breeds
- Donkeys & Mules — Miniature to standard size
- Other Livestock — Call us — if it's a farm animal, we likely handle it
Why Prompt Removal Protects Your Operation
Herd Biosecurity
A decomposing carcass can harbor and amplify pathogens. If the animal died from an infectious disease, leaving the carcass in the field or barn creates ongoing exposure risk for your healthy animals.
Legal Compliance
Illinois requires prompt removal; Wisconsin mandates action within 24–48 hours under ATCP 10. Non-compliance can result in fines from the IDOA or Wisconsin DATCP. A licensed removal service creates documented compliance.
Predator & Scavenger Control
Carcasses attract coyotes, vultures, raccoons, and other scavengers — which can then disturb your living herd, damage fencing and structures, and create additional biosecurity issues.
Insurance Documentation
Livestock mortality insurance claims require documentation. We provide pickup receipts and disposal records that support your claim and demonstrate responsible farm management.
When You Call, Have Ready:
- Your address and clear directions to the animal's location
- Type of animal and approximate weight
- Whether illness or disease is suspected
- Any access limitations (locked gates, soft ground, narrow lanes)
- Whether multiple animals are involved
- Whether you have a disposal preference (rendering, cremation)
- Your name and contact number for any follow-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you remove a dead cow or bull?
We offer same-day service for calls received before noon. For large animals on roadways or in situations creating biosecurity concerns, we prioritize dispatch and typically arrive within 1–3 hours from Harvard, IL. Emergency after-hours service is also available. Dead cattle left on your property create health hazards and may attract predators — prompt removal is important.
Do you handle the BSE 30-month rule for cattle?
Yes. We are aware of the USDA regulations related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the restrictions on specified risk materials (SRM) for cattle over 30 months of age. When transporting older cattle to rendering facilities, we follow applicable guidelines. If you have concerns about a specific animal or herd, let us know when you call and we will advise on the appropriate disposal pathway.
Can you remove multiple dead animals at once?
Absolutely. We regularly handle multi-animal pickups for farms that have experienced a disease event, severe weather loss, or other circumstances affecting multiple animals. Our vehicles are sized to handle multiple carcasses in a single trip when appropriate. Call us to discuss your specific situation and we'll arrange the most efficient response.
Need a Pickup? We're Ready.
Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin farms depend on prompt, professional livestock removal. Call Brier Hill any time — we answer 24/7.