Naomi -I am not disputing they killl their own animals. I'm disputing what you said about them then sending dead animal to local butchers to be processed. Its not legal, and any butcher would not risk their local licence in doing so.
Farmers in general dispatch an animal for their own use using “private slaughter” which is when the owner of the animal sends it to an approved slaughterhouse to be slaughtered and the dressed carcase is returned to the owner. Animals that undergo ‘“private
slaughter” would be subject to formal inspection procedures by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as determined by the Official Control Regulations (OCR), following which the carcase would receive a health mark to verify that it is fit for human consumption. It is illegal to sell or give away to anyone other than a direct member of your family, meat processed either way.
We've done this for years and know the rules.