[Jukes Mum]

I thought I had got my head round this, but either I have forgotten what I knew, or I never really understood this. Bear with me 
Before I bought my sheep in April, I got a holding number.
When I got the sheep I sent off the movement records (it was just after the change but they said this was fine).
A nice lady called me (unfortunately I do not know where from) to check that I was happy with everything I had to do for movement records, meds records etc. She said at the time that I had a flock number (and even read it out to me). I told her that I didn't have this before and she said that it was probably on it's way.
Now my memory is really quite bad so I forgot all about this until now.
I am now looking to introduce my girls to their new fella. They are registered Ryelands.
So my questions are; what is the flock number I should have received and who do I need to contact to get this (England)?
Do I need to inform anyone (RBST?) that I intend to breed the Ryelands so that I can register the lambs, or do I just wait until they're born?
Sorry if these are daft questions

[Bionic]

In Wales I contacted Animal Health in the county that I am in and got everything I needed for my flock number. I don't know quite how it works in England though.
As for breeding you don't need to do anything with the RFBS until you have your lambs. Even then you might decide not to register them. It depends on what you want them for. If its meat then don't waste your money registering. If you want to sell them as pedigree stock then they will need to be registered but make sure that they are worthy of registration i.e. the correct markings etc. so you aren't likely to be registering them very early on.
Once you get round to registering them it can be done on line. I did mine that way this year and found it a much quicker process.

[mowhaugh]

Yes, contact your local animal health office for your flock number - it will be in the format of UK0 then 6 other digits for sheep.

[Marches Farmer]

If you want to register your Ryeland lambs you need to join the flock Society - most charge a membership fee then differing amounts for ram and ewe lambs.  Not worth it if you don't want to sell pedigree stock but vital if you do.  Keep records of which ewe poroduced what and as many pedigree details of ewes and ram as you can muster in case you change your mind and want to sell pedigree stock later.

[Rosemary]

RFBS £5 for ewe lambs and £15 for tup lambs.

[Bramblecot]

And when you have your flock number, that is the number that goes on the ear tags for any lambs born on your holding .  The holding number relates to County/Parish/Holding .

[Jukes Mum]

Thanks All for your advice.
I have had a look on the Ryland website and it says the following:


Tagging requirements:
Ryeland Flock Number / Year Letter Individual Number. Eg 09999/P439

But the sheep I currently have are tagged "UK0148563/00026" and similar? So the UK0148563 is the flock number from the animal health office, and the 00026 if the individual sheep's number, where should the other info be?

[Bionic]

You can get all the info on the same tag although its a bit of a squeeze. I use Allflex bubblegum tags and they can do it. Others must do it too.
My tags would read 01812(flock no from RFBS) U (this years no from the RFBS) 0012 (lambs individual no) UK0752674 (animal health flock no) - 01812 U0012 UK0752674

[Jukes Mum]

Thanks Bionic- does that mean that my girls are not tagged properly? 

[Bionic]

I'm not an expert on this and have struggled myself in the past.
Do they have the RFBS no's on a seperate tag?
If not then they don't seem to have the correct RFBS nos on them. Are they definitely registered pedigree? Do you have their registration docs?

[Jukes Mum]

Hmmm I'll have a look tonight, but I'm fairly sure that both tags have the same numbers on them.
Yes, I have their registration docs.

I will get on to animal health about the other flock number anyway.