All sheep and goat keepers in England and Wales are required to record the number of sheep and goats on their holding(s) on the 1st of December every year. This must be completed and returned by the 31st of December.
England
You will receive a letter or email from Defra at the end of November each year to tell you what you need to do.
How to complete your inventory
You can complete your inventory online or by post.
Use the online service
You can use the online sheep and goats annual inventory to send your records online. You can start this from the end of November, once you receive your inventory letter or email. This will include the details you need to access the service.
To log in you’ll need your:
- 9-digit county parish holding (CPH) number, as it appears on your letter or email from Defra
- Your postcode
The service allows you to save your inventory record as you go.
Send your inventory by post
Fill in the form that Defra sent to you with your letter and return it in the pre-paid envelope. You must send your completed form to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) by 31st December.
Update your holding register
You must also update your holding register with the number of sheep and goats on your holding on 1st December.
If you use the Defra holding register template, there is a section for the inventory at the end of the document.
If you need help or advice
Contact Defra farm surveys if you need help with your inventory or submitting your form by email at surveys@defra.gov.uk or by telephone: 03000 600 140
Sample sheep and goat holding registers are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sheep-and-goat-holding-register
Read more at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sheep-and-goat-keepers-complete-your-annual-inventory
Wales
To bring the annual inventory in line with other UK nations, the date of the inventory has changed in 2024 to 1st December. This is part of the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (Wales) Order 2015 and the information required will remain the same.
The annual inventory is a record of the number of sheep and goats on a holding and should include:
- Breeding sheep
- Rams
- Ram lambs
- Store and finished lambs
- Cull ewes/rams, and
- Other sheep and goats
You must also record the number of sheep and goats on your holding in your on-farm ‘Flock Record’.
You must list in the inventory all the CPHs where you are the owner of sheep and/or goats. This includes common land and temporary land.
If you do not complete the inventory, you are more likely to be selected for an inspection.
Move to an online Annual Inventory
From now on, the Welsh Government will no longer issue the usual paper inventory forms and the way to submit your inventory will be via your EIDCymru online account. The EIDCymru bureau are happy to help you register for an online account and can also answer any queries you may have. They are available by email at contact@eidcymru.org, or by telephone: 01970 636959.
Read more at: https://www.gov.wales/sheep-and-goat-keepers-annual-inventory-december-2024
For further help and advice, please contact our Agricultural Compliance team on 01981 590514.
