Policy paper

Livestock Information Transformation Programme (LITP)

Published 20 January 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/livestock-information-transformation-programme-litp/livestock-information-transformation-programme-litp

The Livestock Information Transformation Programme (LITP) is a Defra change programme for England, which is introducing new technology to trace livestock movements more quickly and accurately. 

Identifying and tracing livestock from their origin to the consumer:

  • helps protect animal health
  • supports farmers
  • keeps our food safe

LITP will replace existing, species-specific traceability systems across England with a new multispecies system called the Livestock Information Service (LIS). This will allow livestock movements of multiple species to be reported digitally through one system.  

The new multispecies system for England will enable near real-time reporting of livestock movements and allow the introduction of Bovine Electronic Identification (BEID). This means:

  • faster, better-informed decisions on controlling disease outbreaks
  • improved data to support animal health and welfare
  • stronger assurances on food safety
  • enhanced productivity
  • smoother trade

Our partners 

LITP sits in the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) and is funded through the Defra farming budget. 

We’re developing the new multispecies LIS in partnership with: 

Defra Group 

  • Livestock Information Ltd (LI Ltd) – a technology delivery partner owned 85% by Defra and 15% by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
  • Digital, Data, Technology and Security (DDTS) – Defra’s in-house digital solutions team
  • Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) – an executive agency of Defra responsible for animal, plant and bee health
  • Rural Payments Agency (RPA), together with the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) – delivers operational services, including traceability, to support a thriving farming and food sector 

Industry  

The Traceability Design User Group (TDUG) is an independent group of over 25 industry, government and academic specialists from across the livestock, equine and meat industries. The group acts as a bridge between industry and government, ensuring the multispecies system meets the needs of both. 

Devolved governments 

Animal health and traceability policy is devolved. Each nation is developing their own multispecies traceability services for livestock movements.  

We are working closely with the devolved governments to ensure data from the systems comes together, giving Chief Veterinary Officers across Great Britain a UK-wide picture of livestock movements to inform disease control and frictionless trade. 

Timeline 

Between 2025 and 2029, as new policies are developed and implemented, the programme will: 

  • establish the LIS system for cattle to replace the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) 
  • enhance the LIS system for sheep, goats and deer (Animal Reporting and Movement Service (ARAMS) was replaced in 2022 by the LIS sheep service, to enable digital reporting of movements for sheep, goats and deer) 
  • introduce Bovine Electronic Identification (BEID) 
  • expand the LIS to additional species 

Next steps 

We will launch LIS for cattle service first, replacing the existing CTS. The rollout of the LIS for cattle will start with a small group of cattle keepers. CTS will continue to operate until the service has been rolled out to all cattle keepers. We’ll then add additional species to LIS. Further details on requirements and support available will be provided before the transition of each species to the new service.

Further information 

If you want to find out more, you can: 

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