Record Keeping
In sheep farming, maintaining accurate records is essential for effective management, regulatory compliance, and ensuring the farm’s productivity and profitability.
Below are reasons why. Hover over the boxes to see further information.
Legal Compliance
Legal Compliance
Subsidies and Grants
Subsidies and Grants
Flock Management
Flock Management
Disease Control
Disease Control
Financial Management
Financial Management
The records that need to be kept
Animal Identification Records
Sheep must be identified with electronic identification (EID) tags as required by UK law. Farmers must keep records of:
- Tagging date.
- Tag number for each sheep (both visual and electronic tags).
- Any lost or replaced tags.
Movement Records
Every time sheep are moved from one location to another (e.g., from farm to market, to another farm, or for slaughter), the movement must be recorded. In the UK, this is done through EID Cymru.
Records should include:
- Date of movement.
- Number of sheep moved.
- Departure and destination locations along with their holding CPH numbers.
- Individual ID numbers (if required by law).
- Transport details (vehicle registration).
Sheep Movement Book:
This is a legal requirement where all movements must be logged. It helps with disease control and traceability of animals.
Birth, Death, and Breeding Records
Lambing Records :This information is not mandatory to be collected but is good practise.
Keep detailed records of lambing events, including:
- Date of birth.
- Number of lambs born per ewe.
- Sex of lambs.
- Identification numbers.
- Details of any issues during birth (e.g., assistance needed, stillbirths).
Breeding and Mating Records:
- Date of mating.
- Ram used for mating.
- Expected lambing dates.
Death and Disposal Records:
- Date of death.
- Cause of death (if known).
- Method of disposal (e.g., via licensed disposal service, incineration).
Health and Veterinary Records
Medical Treatments:
Keep track of all medical treatments administered, including:
- Date of treatment.
- Reason for treatment.
- Name of drug or medication used.
- Dosage and withdrawal periods (the time before the animal can be slaughtered or its products used for human consumption).
- Batch number and issue date.
Worming and Drenching Records:
Records for parasite control treatments should include:
- Date of worming or drenching.
- Product used and dosage.
- Number and ID of sheep treated.
Flock Records
Inventory of Sheep:
Maintain a list of all sheep on the farm, including:
- Total number of sheep in the flock.
- Ewe, ram, and lamb numbers.
- Ages, breeds, and individual identification details.
Culling Records:
Record the reasons for culling sheep (e.g., health problems, old age) and details of where they were sent (e.g., abattoir).
Financial and Business Records
Sales Records:
Document the sale of sheep, lambs, wool, or other products.
Purchase Records:
Record any purchases related to the farm, including:
- Livestock purchases (e.g., new sheep or rams).
- Equipment and supplies.
- Feed and veterinary products.
Sales Records:
Document the sale of sheep, lambs, wool, or other products.
Environmental and Compliance Records
Records regarding the storage and use of manure, including:
- Quantity produced.
- Method of storage and disposal.
- Environmental regulations compliance, for example the current NVZ regulations.
Subsidy and Grant Records
Subsidies and Grants:
Keep records of any subsidies or grants received, such as those under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), and other environmentally focused schemes.