Animal Movement Rules for Smallholders: CPH Numbers, Passports & Records Explained

Why Movement Rules Matter

Animal movement legislation in the UK exists to control the spread of disease — lessons learned from foot and mouth, BSE, and other outbreaks. The rules can feel bureaucratic, but they're not optional. Failure to comply can result in fines, movement restrictions on your holding, and in serious cases, prosecution. The good news is that once you understand the system, day-to-day compliance is straightforward.

This guide covers the essentials for smallholders keeping cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs in England. Rules in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland follow the same principles but use different systems and portals — links are provided throughout.

Step 1: Get a CPH Number

A County Parish Holding (CPH) number is the foundation of everything. It's a 9-digit number (format: XX/XXX/XXXX) that identifies your land. You need one before you can legally keep any livestock.

• England: Apply through the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) at ruralpayments.service.gov.uk or call 03000 200 301
• Wales: Apply through the Welsh Government's RPW Online service
• Scotland: Apply through SGRPID (Scottish Government Rural Payments)
• Northern Ireland: Apply through DAERA

Your CPH is linked to the land, not to you personally. If you move, you'll need a new CPH for your new holding. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks, so apply early.

Cattle: Passports, Tags & the BCMS

Cattle are the most tightly regulated livestock species. Every animal must be individually identified and registered with the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).

Tagging

• All calves must be tagged with two approved ear tags (one in each ear) within 20 days of birth, or before they leave the holding — whichever is sooner
• Tags must display the UK country code and your herd number
• If a tag is lost, it must be replaced within 28 days (or before movement)

Cattle Passports

• A cattle passport must be applied for within 27 days of birth (or 7 days of tagging)
• Apply online via CTS Online (ctsonline.org.uk) or by post using a paper form
• The passport must accompany the animal on every movement for the rest of its life
• When an animal dies or is slaughtered, the passport must be returned to BCMS within 7 days

Movement Reporting

• All movements on and off your holding must be reported to BCMS within 3 days
• Report online via CTS Online, by phone, or by post
• Keep a holding register recording all cattle on your holding, with dates of birth, movements, and deaths

Sheep & Goats: Tags, Flock Numbers & EID

Getting a Flock/Herd Number

Before keeping sheep or goats, you need a flock mark (sheep) or herd number (goats) from APHA. Apply after you have your CPH number. This mark appears on all ear tags for your animals.

Tagging Requirements

• Sheep and goats born after 31 December 2009 must be individually identified with an Electronic Identification (EID) tag — either an EID ear tag or a bolus
• Animals must be tagged before they leave the holding of birth, or by 9 months of age if remaining on the same holding
• A second tag (visual tag) is also required for most movements
• Replacement tags must be applied if a tag is lost

Movement Documents

• England: Use the APHA sheep and goat movement system. A movement document must accompany animals and be submitted within 3 days of movement.
• Wales: Use EIDCymru (eidcymru.org)
• Scotland: Use ScotEID (scoteId.com)

Holding Register

You must keep a flock/herd register recording all animals on your holding, movements on and off, births, and deaths. This must be kept for at least 3 years and made available to inspectors on request.

Pigs: Herd Marks, eAML2 & Standstill

Registration

• Register as a pig keeper with APHA (England & Wales) to receive your herd mark before any pigs arrive
• Your herd mark is used on ear tags and movement documents

Identification

• Pigs must be identified with a slap mark (ink tattoo) or ear tag bearing your herd mark before they leave your holding
• Pigs moving directly to slaughter from their holding of birth may use a temporary mark

Movement Documents (eAML2)

• All pig movements must be accompanied by an eAML2 document, completed online at eaml2.org.uk before the movement takes place
• Both the keeper sending and the keeper receiving pigs must complete their sections
• The abattoir or market will complete their section on arrival

The 20-Day Standstill

This is the rule that catches most new pig keepers out. After pigs arrive on your holding, a 20-day standstill applies — no pigs, cattle, sheep, or goats can leave your holding during this period (with limited exceptions such as direct-to-slaughter movements). Plan all movements carefully around this rule.

Poultry: Registration & Avian Influenza

• Flocks of 50 birds or more must be registered with APHA's Poultry Register
• Keepers of any number of birds must follow biosecurity requirements during an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) — check APHA guidance at gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu regularly during autumn and winter
• During a housing order, all birds must be kept indoors regardless of flock size

Medicine Records: A Legal Requirement for All Species

For all food-producing animals (cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry), you must keep a written medicine record for every treatment administered. This must include:

• Date of treatment
• Animal ID or group description
• Product name, batch number, and expiry date
• Dose and route of administration
• Withdrawal period
• Name of person who administered the treatment

Medicine records must be kept for at least 5 years and made available to your vet, an inspector, or your assurance scheme auditor on request.

Farm Assurance Schemes

If you plan to sell meat or livestock through assured channels (Red Tractor, Quality Meat Scotland, etc.), additional record-keeping and inspection requirements apply. Contact the relevant scheme for details before you start selling.

Key Contacts & Resources

• APHA (Animal & Plant Health Agency): gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency
• BCMS (cattle): ctsonline.org.uk | 0345 050 1234
• Pig movements (England & Wales): eaml2.org.uk
• Sheep movements (Wales): eIdcymru.org
• Sheep movements (Scotland): scoteId.com
• Rural Payments Agency (CPH): ruralpayments.service.gov.uk | 03000 200 301

Getting the paperwork right from the start protects you, your animals, and the wider farming community. If you're unsure about any requirement, contact APHA or your local trading standards office — they'd rather answer a question than deal with a compliance issue.

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