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Food and farming

Farm animals

• Cattle
• Pigs
• Poultry
• Sheep and goats
• Other species
• Animal diseases
• Animal welfare
• Livestock movements and tagging
• Farm Health Planning

Farm animals

The livestock section covers the key issues surrounding the health and welfare, identification and movement of farm animals.

• Cattle and dairy
• Pigs
• Poultry
• Sheep and goats
• Guidance on key notifiable and zoonotic diseases

Electronic identification (EID) for sheep - From 31 December 2009, the UK sheep industry will see a change in how sheep are identified and how the identification is read and recorded with the introduction of electronic identification (EID) of sheep. 

Livestock market visits 2009 - The livestock market visits give farmers the opportunity to speak with Defra representatives about new legislation and disease prevention. They will be visiting various locations around the country from September to November.

Livestock information & guidance at Business Link

Visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/livestock for plain English guides on livestock - in the new farming section on Business Link - including:

• Health and Welfare
• Identification, registration and transportation
• Disease: prevention, notification and restriction

See also:

• Fallen stock, animal by-products.
• Pigs - Further information on wild boar, 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.

Defra's animal health delivery agents

• Animal Health
• Veterinary Laboratories Agency
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate
• Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
• Farm Animal Welfare Council
• Companion Animal Welfare Council

Page last modified: 23 September 2009

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