Goat, pig and alpaca aftercare in Florence, Tuscany
A 150 lb goat or a pot-bellied pig won't fit the plans most pet crematories are built around. This guide explains your real options, from private cremation to farm-gate collection, and what each one costs.
- What to do in the first few hours
- Disease reporting, explained plainly
- Keepsakes: fleece, feathers, halter
Florence, Tuscany
Who can help with a goat, pig or sheep in Florence
Tuscan hills and narrow country roads can make large-animal aftercare harder. A heavy vehicle may not reach a stable on a steep, unpaved track, and in a Tuscan August the body cannot wait long. Tell any provider about the road, the gate and the slope, so they bring suitable lifting equipment, and ask what documents, such as a horse's passport, they need.
Florence is surrounded by the Tuscan countryside, with olive groves, vineyards, farms with sheep and cattle, and horses kept at riding centres and agriturismi. Further south, the Maremma has a long tradition of horse breeding and cattle ranching. For a large animal, the key question is whether a vehicle can get up the hilly, often unpaved lanes to where it lies.
If nobody in Florence takes your species at its weight, look to a larger centre such as Bologna or to providers serving Siena. Equine crematories often take donkeys, llamas and big pigs, and some charge by the pound, which can work out fairly for a mid-size animal. Ask whether they'll meet you halfway or share a collection run with another owner in your area.
About 382,000 people live in Florence, which makes it the largest of the 2 Tuscany communities we cover. Bologna, roughly 50 miles off, is the closest larger centre, and a share of the providers who cover Florence run from there.
For a second opinion on price, Siena (31 miles), Bologna (50 miles) and Portofino (108 miles) are close enough that their providers cover Florence routinely. Two written quotes tell you more than any price list.
38.16%[1]
In 2023, 38.16% of deaths in Italy were cremated (91 crematoria).
$600-$1,000[2]
Cremating a 1,000-pound horse was reported to cost about $600-$1,000, depending on location and the price of propane.
3-5% of body weight[3]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
We built the this numbers from Embrace Pet Insurance and Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension), and both are worth a look if you want the detail.
Burial, cremation and farm tradition in Italy
Burial is still the tradition in Italy, where only about 38.16%[1] of people are cremated. For a farm animal that often means a grave dug by tractor on your own land. Before you go that way, check the depth and distance-from-water rules and think about scavengers if a vet euthanized your animal. Cremation keeps things simpler, and it's available even where it's less common.
Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023) is where the Italy figure comes from. It counts people; we use it because attitudes to cremating a pet in Florence tend to follow attitudes to cremation generally.
Heat, cold and timing in Florence
Local weather affects two things: how quickly your animal needs to be collected, and whether burying or scattering outdoors is practical. In cold months the ground may be frozen; in hot months speed matters more than anything. Your vet or provider in Florence will know the seasons, so ask what they'd do at this time of year.
Where the money goes: cremation, collection, urn
In several European countries the default route for a dead sheep, goat or pig is collection by the national rendering service. Near Florence that's usually the cheapest option, and nothing comes back. A pet crematorium is the alternative if you want the ashes; the prices in the table give a sense of the step up.
The Tuscany price table breaks costs down by size; our services page explains what sits behind each line.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Livestock and pet rules in Tuscany
Two things catch hobby farmers out: time limits and disease reporting. Many places expect a dead farm animal to be dealt with within a day or two, and some illnesses in pigs, poultry, sheep and goats must be reported before the body goes anywhere. Here's what applies to pets generally in Tuscany; your vet can confirm the livestock side.
In Italy, dead farmed animals, including pet sheep, goats and pigs, normally go through authorised collection under EU animal by-product rules rather than being buried on the land. Some pet crematoria accept smaller farm species for individual cremation; ask about weight limits and paperwork, and check with your ASL veterinary service if the cause of death is unclear.
The first day, step by step
- Say goodbye in your own way. There's time for a few quiet minutes in the barn or paddock, even on a busy farm day.
- Keep the body shaded, covered and away from dogs or any other scavenger while you're on the phone.
- Find a provider that takes your species at its weight. Your vet will know local options, or we can send you local options.
- Choose private, communal or collection, and ask for written confirmation of which one you've booked.
- Decide how the animal gets there. Collection from the farm costs extra; taking it in your own pickup or trailer often cuts the bill a good deal.
- Plan where the ashes will go. There's no rush to settle it today; plenty of keepers hold off on scattering until an anniversary or a change of season.
A lasting place for your animal near Florence
In Italy, farm animals normally go through an authorised collection service, while a horse, donkey or family pet can go to a single cremation if a suitable facility is within reach. Tuscany has only a handful of places able to take a horse, so it is worth asking early how far the journey would be and when the ashes would come back. Ask for the full cost, including transport from the stable, in writing.
or see what other families chose in the poll results, try the free planning tools, read our guides and latest articles, Our services overview lays out every option side by side. More local pages: Siena, the Tuscany overview and every city in Italy.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
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What was (or would be) hardest about the practical side?
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If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Livestock mortality planner
Plan disposal capacity and costs for farm losses, from one animal to a herd.
Urn size calculator
Find the urn volume you need from your pet's weight, plus keepsake and sharing options.
Questions people ask
Is cremation common in Italy?
For people, yes: about 38.16%[1] of Italy deaths end in cremation, according to Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in Florence follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
Will I have to travel to Bologna to arrange things?
Not usually. Providers based in Bologna (roughly 50 miles from Florence) collect from here as a matter of routine, and the paperwork is done by email or phone. If you want to be present for a witnessed cremation, that is when the drive matters.
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from Florence?
Usually yes. Siena is about 31 miles away, Bologna is about 50 miles away and Portofino is about 108 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
Is it cheaper to cremate two goats or sheep together?
Sometimes. Some providers charge by combined weight for a joint cremation of bonded animals, which can cost less than two separate private cremations; the ashes come back mixed in one urn. Others price each animal on its own. If both died together, or you'd like a companion's ashes added later, ask for a price on each option before you decide.
Can I bring my goat or pig to the crematory myself?
Usually yes, and it often saves the whole collection fee. Call ahead to agree a time, confirm they accept the weight and ask how they unload. A pickup or small trailer with a ramp works well; lay the animal on a tarp so it can be slid rather than lifted. Bring a helper, and don't try to lift a heavy animal alone.
Should the rest of the herd see the body?
Many keepers find it helps. Goats, alpacas and donkeys in particular often settle better if a bonded companion is allowed a few minutes to see and sniff the body. Stay with them, then move the body out of sight before collection. Expect calling or pacing for a few days afterwards; steady routines help.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] In 2023, 38.16% of deaths in Italy were cremated (91 crematoria). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023, 2023.
- [2] Cremating a 1,000-pound horse was reported to cost about $600-$1,000, depending on location and the price of propane. Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) - Horse Disposal Options, 2019, 2019.
- [3] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [4] Each HPAI-infected premises averaged about 102,814 affected birds (Feb 2022-Sep 2025). Our estimate: 179,000,000 / 1,741. How we calculate.
Tell us about your goat, sheep, pig or bird
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.