Record keeping and the law
The important stuff!
Before buying your goats you will need to contact DEFRA and register as a 'keeper of sheep or goats.' They will issue you with a Holding (CPH) number in the form of 12 / 345 / 6789 and a herd number in the form of UK 123456. Keep these numbers safe as you will need them once you buy your goats. Your holding number references your location and your herd number would be the first part of the ear tag number for any kids born on your holding or any ear tags of adult goats that you need to replace.
When your goats arrive you need to complete a Movement Notification either electronically or by post with the seller and return it to the Livestock Information Service (LIS) to inform them that the goats have come onto your holding - see our 'Links' section for a link to LIS.
As well as this all keepers must keep their own Holding Register (either paper or online) for on-movements, off-movements and deaths. A template is downloadable from DEFRA - please see our 'Links' section.
And you must also keep medicine records (either on paper or online) detailing all medicines administered to any of your goats. A downloadable PDF template is available on the British Goat Society website under their 'fees & forms' section.
All sheep & goat keepers are also expected to complete an 'Annual Inventory' on or around 1st December each year. As a registered keeper you will be emailed the required link with a reminder. It is a quick, easy process.
