The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: moprabbit on April 17, 2012, 10:25:21 pm
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I've just been reading some of the topics about ear tags and the legislation around them. I saw someone had mentioned a flock record book, I know you need to keep a medicine record book, but wondered what the flock record book was and where I might get one. Are there any other records you need to keep?
Thank you!
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Do you have a flock number? Six digits. You can't own sheep or goats and you can't move them to or from your holding without one. It goes on the ear tags along with the CPH number you also have to have.
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1082278802&type=RESOURCES (http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1082278802&type=RESOURCES) and keep reading for a while and then go to the Defra website to download the register though when you get the flock number they tend to send a smarter bound copy
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Thanks for the link Smallfarmer - I have my sheep and a holding number and a flock number, but no record book so I shall read the info from the link you've sent and try to get a record book.
Thank you
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Normally when you get your flock number from Animal Health at the council that triggers them to send you out a flock book aka herd register where you record your running total flock details, retagging, on and off movements etc. I would give them a ring.
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If you prefer you can always maintain your records on a spreadsheet.
Just make sure you record the same information as required in a flock book.
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There is an electronic version of the sheep/goat holding register here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/03/27/holding-register-pb13281/ (http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/03/27/holding-register-pb13281/)
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the records book should mirror what has to go on your return each year which starts from 1 December. Did you not get a questionaire last time around? they are normally very hot and you have to complete even if its a zero return.
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They've missed me off as well for the last couple of years but I wasn't proposing to go asking. My record keeping is perfect and they're welcome to come round but...
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You can get a Flock book from the agriculture people, well I did from SEERAD at Thainestone just gave them a phone and it was posted straight out.
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They are also known as holding registers, and are available on a well known internet auction site produced by castlemaker print.
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As a tight-fisted whassname I wouldn't even part with the cash to print one off, Animal Health give them to you, gratis. You will have to see trading standards/AH sometime in your sheepkeeping career, so make sure when they pop round, you get a big wodge of movement forms, some holding registers and anything else they have that you might want.
I had a visit a week ago or so, as Id just registered a new holding number (admin cock up on my part - dont ask), and I find them pretty helpful - like any of these bodies, they are only there to help unless you are doing something really wrong.