Apply for a county parish holding (CPH) number
You must get a county parish holding (CPH) number if you keep livestock as a business, hobby or pet in England.
Applies to England
Introduction
A county parish holding (CPH) number, or holding number, means the government knows where your livestock are kept and can trace them to help prevent and control disease.
You must get a CPH number for land and buildings used to keep livestock for any purpose.
This includes keeping livestock as:
- a business, such as farming
- a hobby, such as chickens in a home garden
- a pet, such as a goat
If your land crosses a border
If your land crosses a border, contact the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
Rural Payments Agency
Telephone (Defra rural services helpline): 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
When to apply for a CPH number
You can apply for a CPH number a maximum of 6 weeks before livestock arrive.
For example:
- Your cattle will arrive on 1 June 2026.
- You can apply for a CPH number on or after 20 April 2026.
You should apply for a CPH number as early as possible to reduce the risk of delay.
If you have already registered other livestock, you can amend your CPH details
What livestock needs a CPH number
Livestock you need a CPH number for includes:
- cattle
- sheep
- goats
- pigs
- deer (voluntary unless moving livestock)
- camelids (voluntary)
- poultry
The process is different if you keep fewer than 50 poultry or any number of other captive birds, for example, canaries, finches and pigeons.
Read more about getting a CPH number if you keep fewer than 50 poultry or any number of captive birds
Rules on getting a CPH number for certain business uses
Use this section if you:
- use animal by-products
- run a slaughterhouse
- run an animal gathering, such as a livestock market or show
- race pigeons
- keep fewer than 50 poultry or any number of captive birds
- keep horses for export
- keep bovines, such as cattle, bison or buffalo
Animal by-products
You do not need a CPH number to use animal by-products (ABP) or set up an ABP site
Get a CPH number for a slaughterhouse
If you’re setting up a slaughterhouse, you must first register with the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
The FSA tells the RPA who will issue you with a CPH number.
Get a CPH number for an animal gathering
You must get a CPH number to hold an animal gathering.
This is when certain species of animals are brought together from different places:
- for show or exhibition
- to be inspected for breed characteristics, for example, to assess pedigree status
You do not need a CPH number to run a bird gathering
Get a CPH number to race pigeons in Europe and Northern Ireland
If you move racing pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for immediate release for racing back to England, you need a CPH number:
Get a CPH number if you keep fewer than 50 poultry or any number of captive birds
You must get a CPH number from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) if you keep:
- fewer than 50 poultry
- any number of other captive birds
Get a CPH number to export or move horses from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland
You must get a CPH number from the APHA before exporting or moving horses and other equines, including donkeys, mules and zebras, from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland.
Before applying for a CPH number, you should read the current rules for exporting horses and other equines from the UK
If you keep bovine livestock
If you keep cattle, bison or buffalo, you must confirm the name and address of your veterinary practice for bovine TB testing purposes.
If you have already moved cattle, bison or buffalo onto the land, you must provide the ear tag numbers and the dates they moved.
You can provide ear tag numbers and movement dates in the apply for a CPH form. However, if you have 20 or more bovine livestock, the RPA recommends adding details in bulk.
To upload in bulk:
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Download the ‘Provide cattle ear tag numbers in bulk’ spreadsheet.
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Enter the ear tag number for each cow, bison or buffalo in column A (one per row).
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Enter the date the livestock moved onto your holding in column B.
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Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all livestock.
How to apply online for a CPH number
Apply for a CPH number online if you’re:
- not already registered with the Rural Payments service
- registered on the Rural Payments service but do not have a CPH number
- over 18 years old
If you’re already registered on the Rural Payments service and have a CPH number, you should:
- apply by phone
- use the CPH amendment form
You can also use the CPH amendment form to apply for an additional CPH number.
What information you need to apply for a CPH number
A CPH number includes information about you, your livestock, if you own or rent the land or buildings and your business.
You will be asked to share, for example:
- your name
- your contact details - correspondence address, phone number and an email address
- the business you’re part of, if applicable
- your livestock’s location - its easting and northing
To help keep your account secure, you will be asked to provide answers to security questions.
Renting land or buildings
If you’re renting for more than one year, you must get a CPH number from the RPA.
If you’re renting for less than one year, the rules are different. If you:
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already have a CPH number, you must get a temporary land association (TLA) or temporary county parish holding (tCPH) number
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do not have a CPH number, you must get a 7000 series CPH number from the RPA and a TLA or tCPH number
After you apply for a CPH number from RPA
The RPA will share your registered information with:
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APHA to get your flock and herd number
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British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) to register any cattle you keep on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS)
The RPA will send you an email that includes a:
- validation link – you must click this within 12 hours or request another from the RPA
- single business identifier (SBI)
- customer reference number (CRN), for you to use when contacting RPA
You will also get an email from:
- APHA with your flock or herd number
- BCMS with CTS details and other information, if you keep cattle
Amend your CPH details
You can amend your CPH details online
Apply online for a CPH number
Updates to this page
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The process for applying for a CPH has changed. You only need to register with the RPA, unless you’re keeping fewer than 50 poultry or any number of captive birds.
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Added a link to the 'Amend your CPH details' online service.
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Animal by product operators in England do not need a CPH number.
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If you’re a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds, you must register with APHA. This includes any birds you keep as pets. APHA will provide you with a CPH number when you register. You should not apply for a CPH number from RPA separately.
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First published.