Defra

Main menu

• Contact us
• Access to information
• News
• Site A-Z
• Search

Farming home

Livestock

• Biosecurity
• Fallen stock
• Animal by-products
• Notifiable diseases
• Zoonotic diseases
• Cattle & dairy
• Pigs
• Poultry
• Sheep
• Other species

Looking for...

• News
• Publications
• Statistics
• Forms & licences
• Consultations

Related links

• Wildlife & countryside
• Animal health & welfare strategy
• Disease surveillance & control
• RDPE
• Food & drink

Farming: livestock

The livestock section covers the key issues surrounding the health and welfare, identification and movement of farm animals. Cattle and dairy Sheep and goats Poultry Pigs This section also provides guidance on a number of notifiable and zoonotic diseases of most relevance to farming livestock.

EID Electronic identification (EID) and individual recording is an EU requirement (Regulation 21/2004) which will be mandatory for sheep born on or after 31 December. Fallen stock Fallen stock can no longer be buried or burnt in the open. Instead, animals must be taken to, or collected by an approved knacker, hunt kennel, incinerator or renderer, either by private arrangement, or under the National Fallen Stock Scheme.

See also:

• Attend the Defra workshop for livestock farmers on statutory record keeping requirements taking place on 11 September 2008.
• Animal diseases – separate advice and guidance on notifiable diseases,  zoonotic diseases and biosecurity. For further details on specific diseases you should refer to the animal health and welfare section of the site.
• Fallen stock, animal by-products and the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme
• Pigs - Further information on wild boar, the UK & Euro Carcass Specifications and the GB Euro Carcass Specification, and the Pig industry restructuring scheme are also available in this section.
• Livestock strategy - The livestock sector uses up to 65% of agricultural land. Following CAP reform, the livestock sector is expected to go through a period of major change in the coming years. Defra’s aim is to facilitate a diverse, responsible, robust and innovative livestock food chain.
• Animal Health and Welfare Strategy - The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain is the route map for work to improve the health and welfare of kept animals in England, Scotland and Wales.
• For further information on the eggs and poultry sector and milk and milk products see the Food and Drinks pages of the site.
• Research report published, April 2008: The environmental impact of livestock production: review of research and literature (PDF 1.2 MB)

CAP reform - Single Payment Scheme

Under the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy the Single Payment System replaces eleven CAP payment schemes with one new single payment. The payment schemes covering the livestock sector that have been replaced include: Beef Special Premium Scheme, Extensification Payment Scheme, Livestock Quotas, Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, Slaughter Premium Scheme, Suckler Cow Premium Scheme.

Rural Payments Agency

The RPA, an Executive Agency of Defra, is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and certain schemes throughout the UK. For information relating to payment including forms (and guidance for the forms) for the Single Payment Scheme, please refer to the RPA's website.

Page last modified: 7 April 2008
Page published: 1 July 2006

Top of the page