Template holding register for cattle keepers
Print a template holding register (also known as a herd register or farm records) to keep a paper record of cattle births, movements and deaths.
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
You can use one of these templates to keep a holding register to record cattle, bison and buffalo:
- movements, including if an animal is lost or stolen - you’ll also need to report the loss or theft to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS)
- births
- deaths
- official ear tag numbers when you replace an ear tag
You do not have to use these templates, but it’s a legal requirement to keep a holding register that contains the same information. Find out what you must record in your holding register.
You need to keep a separate holding register for each of your holdings.
When you must update your holding register
You must update your holding register within:
- 36 hours of a movement on or off a holding
- 36 hours of replacing an ear tag, if the ear tag number has changed
- 7 days of the birth of a dairy animal
- 30 days of the birth of all other cattle
- 7 days of a death
You must update your holding register within 36 hours of tagging with a new official ear tag number for cattle:
- born or imported into Great Britain before 1 January 1998 if the official ear tag number has changed
- imported into Great Britain from outside the EU
How to use the templates
The templates have blank sheets for you to fill in. You need to be able to present the filled in spreadsheet or document for inspection when asked.
Both documents print best at A3 size, landscape (long sided). If you print it A4 size, you can print them over 2 pages - make sure you bind these and keep them together.
You might find it useful to have different documents for male and female cattle.
You’ll need to use official cattle breeds and codes. Movements of the same animal on and off your holding must appear on the same line.
Using the spreadsheet
Download and save a copy of the spreadsheet to your computer. You can then either:
- fill it in and save it on your computer
- print it off and fill it in by hand, using ink
If you need extra rows, you can either:
- copy and paste blank rows to the bottom of the spreadsheet
- download and save another copy of the spreadsheet
Using the document
Download and print a copy of the document. You must then fill it in by hand using ink.
Print off as many copies of the document as you need. Keep them together in a safe place.
Contact the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS)
Contact BCMS for help completing your holding register.
British Cattle Movement Service
Email: bcmsenquiries@rpa.gov.uk
Telephone (England): 0345 050 1234
Telephone (Wales): 0345 050 3456
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Last updated 9 August 2023 + show all updates
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Improved the existing PDF holding register to print fewer pages and clearer instructions on how to use it. Added a spreadsheet holding register template and instructions on how to use it.
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Added translation