Guidance

Sheep and goat keepers: template holding register

Print a template holding register to record sheep and goat tags, movements and deaths.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 27 March 2011
• Last updated: 27 March 2024
  Show all updates

  1. 27 March 2024

     You cannot order a paper copy holding register from Defra. This option has been removed from the list of ways to keep a holding register.

  2. 20 July 2023

     Information added about the different formats keepers can use to keep a holding register, and a link to the annual sheep and goat inventory page. References to COVID-19 supply delays removed.

  3. 28 March 2022

     Holding register (Excel version) has been removed. Use the Livestock Information Service (LIS) holding register function for an electronic holding register.

  4. 8 February 2021

     Updated details on availability of hard copies.

  5. 27 March 2011

     First published.

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

Documents

Holding register (Adobe PDF version)

PDF, 765 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

You can use this blank template holding register (also known as a herd or flock record) to record legally required information about your sheep and goats.

This is one way to keep a holding register. You can instead choose to:

• use the Livestock Information Service to keep a holding register online – it will automatically update when you report animal movements to a holding that also uses LIS
• use a notebook or spreadsheet, as long as you record all the required information
• use the holding register function in your farm software package

Defra helpline
Telephone: 03459 33 55 77
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

Find out how to keep a holding register, including when to update it.

How to use this template

Download and print the document and fill it in by hand.

There are sections for:

• information about your holding
• official identification numbers for new, replacement and replica ear tags, pastern bands and boluses
• all movements to and from your holding
• sheep and goat deaths

There’s also a section for the total number of animals on your holding for your annual inventory. Find out what you need to do to complete and submit your annual inventory.

Keep a separate holding register for each holding you use or rent that has been registered with its own county parish holding (CPH) number.