Keeping sheep, goats, pigs and deer
Find out how to register your holding, record and report animal movements, and about any restrictions after animals arrive on your holding.
Who’s responsible
You don’t have to own animals to be a keeper. You’re a sheep, goat, pig or deer keeper if you have responsibility for the day-to-day care and control of these animals. This includes a single animal kept temporarily or as a pet.
You must follow this guidance as part of your cross compliance requirements. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may reduce your Single Payment Scheme (SPS) or Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) subsidy if you don’t.
The RPA inspects 3% of holdings each year.
There are also movement restrictions that apply when sheep, goats or pigs arrive on your holding. Find out about standstill restrictions after:
Wales and Scotland
Sheep and goat keepers
Includes guidance for abattoirs and exhibition and show grounds.
- Sheep and goat keepers: register your holding and flock or herd
- Sheep and goat keepers: how to identify your animals
- Sheep and goats: types and combinations of identifier
- Sheep and goat keepers: how to report animal movements
- Sheep and goat keepers: how to keep a holding register
- Abattoirs: report and record sheep and goat arrivals
- Report and record movements of sheep or goats to animal shows
- Sample sheep and goat holding register
Pig keepers
Includes guidance for owners of pet pigs or ‘micropigs’.
Deer keepers
Includes guidance for deer keepers on identifying deer and reporting their movement.
Ear tags and slapmarks: approved suppliers, replacements and feedback
Central point recording centres for sheep
Central point recording centres (CPRCs) are holdings that electronically report the arrival of sheep as a service to keepers.
Find a list of approved CPRCs and apply to be a CPRC.
General licences for moving sheep, goats and pigs
When you move sheep, goats or pigs, you’re moving them under these general licences.
You don’t need to apply for these licences and as long as you follow the guidance on moving animals in this collection, you’ll be meeting their conditions.