Do you need to tell defra you are keeping cattle?

Answer 1

Yes, most definitely. It helps to protect you and your cattle from disease. Here is the URL of the DEFRA website explaining what you need to do.

Cut and Paste the following into your address bar:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.s=tl&r.l1=1081597476&r.lc=en&r.l3=1083732048&r.l2=1082184851&topicId=1082247655

A brief synopsis of what you need to do:

1. You need to tag your cattle with a DEFRA approved primary ear tag. You can use a secondary tag for management purposes if required. Must be tagged WITHIN 36h of birth for dairy cattle and 20 days of birth for beef cattle.
2. Currently ALL cattle born or imported into the UK need a "cattle passport". It must remain with the animal at all times (in the office of course) and identifies the animal and tracks its movements. You MUST request a passport within 27 days of the animals birth or you will probably never be issued one for that animal.
3. You must notify DEFRA whenever you move your cattle on or off the farm. There is a license for this. You must notify the BCMS British Cattle Movement Service whenever you move your cattle on or off the farm.
4. If any cattle die on your farm BCMS must be notified and if the animal is 48 months of age or older it must be posted and tested for BSE Bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
5. You must keep detailed herd records according to European law.
6. Expect an On Farm Inspection. DEFRA inspects up to 10% of cattle farms annually. You must show all records and animals.

I thought our United States rules on livestock were tough. We have it easy in West Texas!!!

Good Luck!!