Ever wondered what actually takes place during an RPA sheep inspection? Here we get a rare insight into a typical day in the life of a Sheep Field Officer which provides invaluable information on how to make an inspection as stress-free as possible.
It all usually starts with a phone call – “Hello, is that Mr ‘Smith’?”
“Depends who’s asking,” comes the suspicious reply.
“Sorry to bother you, I’m calling on behalf of the RPA. Your holding has been selected for a sheep inspection.” At this point, experience tells me to hold the phone a bit further from my ear.
“You must be **??!!! Joking!! I’m far too busy doing (insert all the things farmers are busy with here). I was only inspected last year!!” All typical stuff. People don’t want outsiders checking their work and farmers are no different. I explain the rules and eventually Mr Smith agrees to me visiting the following day.
The vast majority of my visits go well. I generally see well cared for stock, presented by farmers keen to get things right and who, despite the imposition of me on their farm, are polite and friendly. Grumpy is also fine, as is angry and shouty (although not threatening) and will make no difference to the outcome of your report. But it’s so much nicer if everyone just accepts it’s something that has to be done. I get to see farms and farmers of all types in fantastic surroundings. From 1 goat smallholdings to flocks of 10,000 sheep plus. Commercial, pedigree, breeders, stores only, dealers and dairy. It’s a great way of seeing farms and the environment.
I arrive at the farm to be greeted by Mr Smith and his sheepdog. Mr Smith is now smiling and resigned to my visit. Sheepdog “Bob” seems less accommodating……. We start with a close up check of 60 sheep to check tags are correct. Bob does his thing which clearly doesn’t have anything to do with what I want or what Mr Smith is shouting. But he seems to be enjoying himself and randomly the sheep eventually run into the pen. Anything over 12 months of age must have 2 two matching tags (one electronic); anything over nine months of age must have either two matching tags or a single slaughter tag and as long as it was born on the holding, animals under 9 months can be untagged. A few sheep have lost tags, but this is ok, as long as they are replaced within 28 days. Then it’s a ride around the holding to count the rest of the flock (sheepdog Bob is not pleased I’m in his seat). Finally, it’s back to the kitchen to check the paperwork. At this point Mr Smith hands over to Mrs Smith. I check the usual – movement records, tagging/retagging/death records and it’s mostly all there. I help Mrs Smith make a few corrections which means I can tick all my boxes. Finally, I sign the register and note that last year’s inspection referred to earlier was actually 4 years ago…….
The next job is much the same, except there’s a good few more missing tags and a good few that seem to have 3 tags or more. The keeper tells me they arrived from market like that. I explain that once the sheep are his, it’s his responsibility to ensure they are correctly tagged e.g. 2 matching tags only. This keeper is also getting his excuses in early about his record keeping. “Might not quite be up to date”, “Market don’t always send me licence copies,” or, “I don’t have the time,” and my favourite, “They keep changing the rules.” It’s my favourite because the rules for record keeping have been the same for 15 years!! Eventually I’m presented with a bag of movement licences and a selection of note pad and diary entries that go some way to being a “sheep register”. There are big gaps though, with numerous omissions. We can’t find any of the sheep I scanned in his records. There’s far too much to put right so it goes in my report. Experience tells me that people that try to update their records prior to my visit really struggle. Memories fade and paperwork gets lost. Keeping records up to date is essential.
The final job of the day is a delight. Fantastic handling facilities, a sheepdog that helps rather than hinders and everything is tagged as required. Things also look up when I note the keeper is using their own tag scanner. As we head to the office to do the “paperwork” I’m presented with a computer screen. As fast as I ask for a record, it pops up on screen. Sheep tags are scanned on and off the holding and fed straight into the computer. No typing required and no dependence on others to read tags. 5 mins and I’m done. A quick, stress-free visit for both me and the keeper.
My day finishes with a trip home through the finest landscape in the world, the British countryside.
Find out more about RPA sheep inspections at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sheep-and-goat-identification-inspection
