Guidance

Annex 6: Livestock record-keeping requirements on arable and grassland

Published 29 June 2023

Applies to England

You must read and meet the requirements detailed in this Annex as these are mandatory for all Mid Tier Agreement Holders.

This annex provides the detail of the livestock record keeping requirements that apply to Countryside Stewardship Agreement Holders. This will help you show that you are managing the land in accordance with your agreement.

The requirements are in addition to those set out in Sections 6.2.4 and 6.5.1 of this manual.

If you have a Countryside Stewardship agreement that has options for grazing management these options may require you to keep livestock records. The individual option requirements are on GOV.UK.

If you do not keep the required livestock records, it is a breach of the option management rules and we may apply reductions. Read Section 7.4 of this manual for more information.

1. How to keep livestock records

1.1 At parcel level

You must keep livestock records for each land parcel that includes at least one of the options in 1A - Parcel level records or 2A - Parcel level records of Annex 6A and at least one of the options in 3A - Parcel level records of Annex 6B (if you choose to graze livestock). You do not need to keep parcel specific records for parcels that do not contain these options.

If you manage several adjacent parcels as one grassland unit, in a block or on rotation, you may keep one record for that grassland unit as long as any stocking limits that apply (usually set out in a calendar) have been set for the unit or block as a whole. The majority of stock can therefore be in one parcel at any given time with few or no stock in another, as long as the stocking density is less than or equal to the specified maximum when averaged across the block as a whole. Where there’s a minimum stocking level, it is acceptable for there to be no grazing animals in an individual parcel at a given time, as long as the minimum level is met when averaged across the block as a whole.

You should also keep farm level livestock records unless that grassland unit represents your whole farm (read definition of farm below).

1.2 At farm level

If your agreement contains at least one of the options in 1B - Farm level records or 2B - Farm level records of Annex 6A, or 3B - Farm level records of Annex 6B, you must make sure there is no over- or under-grazing, or intensification of grazing, due to carrying out the option management requirements. Read Section 6.2.4 for more information.

You must keep livestock records as evidence that you have kept to the maximum stocking density required on your farm. The maximum stocking density for Mid Tier is not more than:

• 2.5 livestock units (LU) / ha on non-Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) land; and

• 2.0 LU / ha on SDA land

on average over the year across all agricultural land on the farm or production unit where the agreement is located.

2. Recording and retention of livestock records

You can keep livestock records either electronically or on paper. However, your records must include all the required information (read below) as you may be asked to produce these during a site visit.

You can use the livestock tables and templates published on GOV.UK

When you have filled these in, they will give you information to help you explain how you have met your agreement requirements at both the parcel level and farm level.

It is important to keep your records up-to-date, so that you can produce them if requested.

You must keep these records for the period of your agreement and for 7 years after it ends. If a problem occurs you can use your records as evidence of when the problem started, and its extent. This may limit any penalties.

3. Information you must record

Your records must include:

• the agreement reference number, Agreement Holder’s name and the calendar year (so the data can be linked to a particular agreement and the correct year);

• the name of the person who entered the record (to make it easier to check if there is a difference); and

• the date of the record (to show the data has been recorded in a timely way).

Your parcel level records must clearly show:

• the parcel number(s) so that the data is linked to the relevant parcel (or parcels - when adjacent parcels are managed as one unit);

• the option code that applies to the parcel(s) so that the data is compared with the relevant requirement;

• the area of the relevant option within that parcel(s) so that livestock density calculations are carried out correctly; and

• present on the option parcel to show that grazing has taken place within the prescribed periods and (where appropriate) that the livestock density has been calculated correctly.

You may need to record the following information:

• the species, age bracket and number of livestock on each option parcel - if your agreement includes a minimum or maximum livestock density or a livestock calendar.

• the breed - if you have the native breeds supplement (SP8).

You only need to keep records for the livestock types set out in Annex 6C. You will need to consider the age of the livestock so that you can convert livestock numbers into Livestock Units. You can assess the age of the animals visually or use any other records available.

Your farm level records must include:

• livestock present on farm on the 15th of each month - to show that livestock density calculations are carried out correctly. You will need to record the species, age bracket and number of all the livestock on your farm. Making a record each month will mean you can calculate an annual stocking density. You only need to keep records for the livestock types set out in Annex 6C. You will need to consider the age of the livestock so that you can convert livestock numbers into Livestock Units. You can assess of the age of the animals visually or use any other records available; and

• area of farm - to make sure that livestock density calculations are carried out correctly, the area of your ’farm’ is the agricultural area (the area of arable land, permanent grassland and permanent pasture, or permanent crops) of all agricultural land on the farm or production unit where the agreement is located (temporary grazing/ summer grass keep does not count towards the ‘area of the farm’).

You must read and meet the requirements detailed in this Annex as these are mandatory for all Mid Tier Agreement Holders.

4. Options with restrictions

You only need to keep parcel level livestock records for the period when the restrictions on grazing apply. You will find these periods in your option management prescriptions.

5. How often you should update your records

5.1 Options listed in 1A - Parcel level records of Annex 6A

Each time you move animals on or off a land parcel covered by an option listed in 1A - Parcel level records of Annex 6A, you should update your records to show the new total number, species and age bracket of the animals present.

5.2 Options listed in 2A - Parcel level records of Annex 6A

You should update your records to show when grazing periods start and stop. This will provide evidence that you are meeting the required numbers in the recommended management of the option.

5.3 Options listed in Annex 6B (options that require exclusion of livestock)

You will make an annual declaration on your Countryside Stewardship claim form that you have met the requirements of your agreement, which will be evidence that the exclusion has taken place.

Farm level records: update monthly

You do not need to record temporary changes in numbers, when removal and return of livestock happen on the same day, for example, cows at daily milking time. However, you should make sure that any maximum livestock density is not exceeded on a land parcel covered by an option.