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I'm sure this is a subject that must have been done to death by now but I'm hoping you can help. We have enough space for me to be able to keep a few animals, other than the chickens. With that in mind I was thinking about getting a couple of lambs and maybe a pig or two. These would be specifically to be killed to feed my family and for nobody else. My question is, do I have to notify DEFRA and register as a smallholding or can I just keep animals for this purpose without notifying them.

I'm not thinking about this for this year but in the future. Obviously I want to do this the right way if we're going to so any info you can give (or the secret code to unlocking information on the DEFRA website if not) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Lynne

I had to get a holding number when I acquired my two pet billy goats. Although I have suckler cows on the land with my farmhouse, my other land is further up the lane, and Its where I keep my horses, poultry and goats .....I now have a holding number for that land. I needed this before I moved the goats, and I had to fill in a form in duplicate, with reference to the transportation of the goats from their old home to me. This was sent to my local trading standards office. So you will have to go through the same prodecure with lambs. You will need to fill in paperwork again when the lambs leave your land.

DEFRA were very helpful when I rang - only thing was I am now registered as a business and then sent me a ream of paperwork to fill in - which I didn't, as it was not relevant to my pet goats!!

Hi,
Yes you do need to get a holding number - contact your local Animal Health office. They are usually really nice and helpful. I agree that the DEFRA website is dire! It's usually quicker just to phone them up. They will give you a holding number for the land, and a flock number if you are going to keep sheep. Not sure about paperwork for pigs now - haven't got to the stage of keeping a pig yet, but working on it. It used to be that you had to contact DEFRA (ot maybe Trading Standards? not sure) when you were going to move a pig as you needed a license, just to move them - think this is still the case.
Yes there is some paperwork, and it sounds horrendous, but if you only have a few animals, it's not that bad, and I've always found the Animal Health office really helpful.
It's worth it to keep the animals.
Have fun!!!!!

http://sheepandchickens.googlepages.com/home

Thanks for the info. Once we've sorted out what we're doing with what part of the land I'll sort out the paperwork. As if I didn't have enough already! lol

Lynne