Register livestock to get a flock or herd mark
Use this page to get a herd or flock mark and keep your registered details up to date if you keep livestock in England as a business, hobby or pet.
Applies to England
Introduction
Anyone who keeps livestock in England, including as a hobby or pet, must get a flock or herd mark from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
The mark is used on identifiers like ears tags and tattoos. It means your livestock can be traced to help prevent and contain the spread of disease.
When to get a flock or herd mark
You must get a flock or herd mark:
-
after you have registered for a county parish holding (CPH) number with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
-
before you move livestock onto land or buildings where you will keep them
What livestock needs a flock or herd mark
Livestock you need a flock or herd mark for includes:
- cattle
- deer
- goats
- pigs
- sheep
- any new species kept at the same holding where you already keep livestock
You do not need a flock mark for poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, quail, partridges, pheasants and ratites.
Get a flock or herd mark
Register for a flock or herd mark with APHA:
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Email: customer.registration@apha.gov.uk
Telephone (Defra rural services helpline): 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
When you register for a flock or herd mark, tell APHA:
- your CPH number
- what species of livestock you keep, how many and for what purpose
If you plan to keep cattle, bison or buffalo, you must also tell APHA the name and address of your veterinary practice for bovine TB testing purposes.
The process usually takes 10 working days. It may take longer during busy periods or if information is missing from your application.
If you do not receive confirmation from APHA after 10 days, contact them by email or phone.
Make changes to your APHA registration
You must tell APHA if any details change after you register.
For example, if you:
- start keeping a new species of livestock
- stop keeping a species of livestock
- stop keeping any livestock
- change where you keep livestock
- retire from farming, including if someone else takes on your farm
Register as a cattle keeper
If you keep cattle, bison or buffalo, you must register as a cattle keeper with the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).
Or contact BCMS:
British Cattle Movement Service
Email: bcmsenquiries@rpa.gov.uk
Telephone (Defra rural services helpline): 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
You can speak to an adviser on webchat. Webchat is only available in English.
Get tags to identify livestock
When you get a flock or herd mark, you’ll be able to get ear tags or other types of identifiers to:
- identify animals born on your holding
- replace lost or damaged tags
The type of tag you’ll need depends on the species of animal you keep.
Find out how and when to identify:
- cattle with ear tags
- sheep with ear tags, pastern bands or boluses
- goats with ear tags, pastern bands or boluses
- deer with ear tags
- pigs with ear tags, tattoos or slap marks
Find a tag supplier
You must buy tags from approved:
You can choose any supplier for:
- pig ear tags and tattoo and slap mark equipment
- deer ear tags
Camelid and deer keepers should use sheep ear tag, pastern band and bolus suppliers
You can choose any supplier for pig ear tags and tattoo and slap mark equipment.
The supplier will:
- ask for your CPH number
- ask for your flock or herd mark
- send you official tags, which are each printed with the herd or flock mark
Cattle, sheep and goat ear tags have a unique official identification number for each animal.
Follow livestock movement rules
You must follow rules to help ensure your animals can be traced at all times. Find out more about keeping: