Dexter Cattle For Sale Discussion Board

This is for all new breeders who may not be fully legal in their paperwork. Have you got the following:-
-Animal Movement Record Book, from Trading Standards.
-Herd Register for Bovine Animals, from Defra
-Animal Medicine Record Book

All only legal if filled in!

I have met several people recently who have been very badly advised that they do not need these things if they just keep "a few pet cows/pet lambs/pot bellied pigs etc"

Fully Legal=No worries!

Yes, you have to keep these records but as far as I know you do not need to use the actual books they provide, although you might want to of course. As long as the records you keep contain all the information required it should be OK. We are inspected fairly regularly, and all our records are in Excel files, the herd, the flock, movements, medicine usage/disposal with withdrawal dates etc. The only thing that isn't kept in those files is medicine purchases. Instead I just ask our vet for a list off their computer about twice a year and that has been accepted as valid by the inspectors.

No-one's ever asked to see our herd register but always movements and medicines.

We were told the same that you don't need an actual herd movement book as long as you have a paper copy of your movements, births, deaths. However when we had a spot check a couple of years ago the man insisted that I still fill in the yellow book recording all this information. Funny thing is that he said the discrepency may affect our Single Farm payment and we don't even claim it! Never heard another word after that and no more checks since. Wish these government departments would all advise us of the 'right' way to do things.

Natasha

We were told by AH when they visited that Excel spreadsheets were fine for Medicine and Movement and even sent me the format to do them.
Have tweaked them a bit to make them exactly the same.
If anyone wants copies PM me and I'll send them through.