Sheep farming is a huge part of the agricultural sector in the UK. It has a massive impact on key things like the environment and food supply. There are some huge challenges for farmers though, including ensuring animal welfare. They have to think carefully about how to manage animals, living conditions, when to use wormer, and many other factors. If you want to start a flock yourself, it is important you do it properly.

The legal obligations

There are a number of things you need to do to legally keep sheep in the UK. It is crucial to do your research. Most importantly, ensure you understand what to do before taking ownership of animals and afterwards.

CPH number

The first step is to get a County Parish Holding Number so you can legally keep sheep on a plot of land. You can get one from the respective Rural Payments Agency for England, Scotland, or Wales, or the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland. Always ensure you follow the authority’s guidelines.

Movement licence

One of the most important things to keep in mind is you can’t move sheep without permission. You must get a licence from the relevant authority for every single move. This includes bringing a flock on to the land for the first time.

Flock details

Once you move animals on to your land, you need to do a number of things to register and identify them. Firstly, get a flock number from the Department for Environment, Food, & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Secondly, you need a Holding Register. It must include all the essential details about the holding, eartags, movements, annual animal counts (as of 1st December every year), and deaths.

You need to tag animals to help with identification. There are different rules for breeding stock and lambs going to slaughter. Each animal will need an electronic tag in one ear and a visual tag in the other. Check the specific rules for England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

Vet/medicine book

Finally, you need to keep a veterinary book. It must include all relevant details of vet checks, medicines, and wormer.

Other key things to think about

As well as ensuring you can legally keep sheep, there are some crucial things to think about to ensure your holding is successful.

Firstly, you have to think about grazing land. You’ll need to move a flock periodically to new pastures. If you don’t have the land yourself, you could buy or rent it. You absolutely need to do some research here so you know what type of land to look at. Plus, make sure you check the status of each pasture. How recently did it have animals on? What type?

Secondly, consider breeds. According to the UK Government, there are a huge 106 different breeds here. That is more than any other country in the world. The UK’s diverse landscape and climate can support many different varieties. As a result, you need to think carefully about what breed to choose. Ensure it is suitable for the environment, whether it is hilly, lowlands, or uplands.

Think about where you can source sheep stock too. The most common sources are livestock sales or buying direct from a private owner. One thing you absolutely must do is ensure the health status of any animals is clear. Make sure there is up to date documentation for treatments and vaccinations.

Ask us about wormer

JS Hubbuck Ltd has a great reputation because we provide the very best level of service. We want customers to choose products they can rely on. Therefore, we ensure we understand the ins and outs of every single one, from clothing to animal health goods. We can offer details, professional recommendations, and more.

So, contact us if you need wormer or other products for keeping sheep and other animals. We’d be happy to help.