Free sheep holding register template
Defra stopped posting out paper holding registers in 2024. This one is free to print. It has every column the rules ask for in England, with notes below on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Before you print
- Set your printer to A4, portrait. The left margin is wide on purpose so a hole punch misses the writing.
- There are two sheets: one for moves on and off, one for tagging, deaths and the annual count. Print a few more of the first. It fills up fastest.
- The spreadsheets open in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers, with the same columns as the paper sheets, so you can start on paper and move across later.
Filling it in
- In England, write each move, tagging and death in the register within 36 hours. In Scotland, moves and tagging go in within 48 hours, and in Northern Ireland moves go in within 36 hours. Reporting the move to the national system is a separate job with its own deadline: three days in England, Wales and Scotland.
- For lambs going to slaughter you can write the flock mark and the number in the batch, rather than every tag.
- Count the sheep and goats on the holding each December and fill in the annual count box: on 1 December in England and Wales, or between 1 and 5 December in Northern Ireland. The deadline for sending the count varies by nation (31 December in Wales), so check the guidance where you farm.
- In England and Northern Ireland, keep the register for three years after the last animal in it has left or died. Scotland and Wales set their own rules, so check before you clear out old sheets.
More on what UK keepers have to record: Livestock record keeping in the UK.
Preview below. Everything above this line is left off the printout.
Sheep and goat holding register: moves on and off
Record moves within 36 hours in England and Northern Ireland (48 in Scotland). Keep for three years in England and Northern Ireland.
- Holding (CPH) no.
- Flock mark
- Year
- Sheet
| Date | On or off | No. of animals | Tag numbers or flock mark | From or to (CPH) | Haulier | Vehicle reg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moves must also be reported to the national system. This sheet is a record, not legal advice. Check the rules where you farm on GOV.UK, or with the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or DAERA.
Sheep and goat holding register: tagging, deaths and annual count
- Holding (CPH) no.
- Flock mark
- Year
- Sheet
Holding details
- Keeper name and address
- Holding address
- Type of production (meat, wool, dairy or other)
Tagging
| Date tagged | Tag number | Year of birth | Breed (if known) |
|---|---|---|---|
Deaths
| Date of death | Tag number |
|---|---|
Annual count in December
- Sheep
- Goats
- Date counted
Moves must also be reported to the national system. This sheet is a record, not legal advice. Check the rules where you farm on GOV.UK, or with the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or DAERA.
This register is the manual version
Copying tag numbers by hand is where registers go wrong. Agrianta does that part for you.
- Tags read straight in
- Read EID tags with a Shearwell SDL440S or Allflex AWR stick reader, or your phone's camera, and the numbers go in without copying.
- Moves recorded at the pen
- Record a move on or off where it happens, even without signal, with the date and holding attached.
- Ready when someone asks
- Your records export in one click for an inspection.
Keep using the paper register if it works for you. It is a legal record either way, and it is free.
Common questions
How long do I have to keep a sheep holding register?
In England and Northern Ireland, three years after the last animal in it has left the holding or died. Scotland and Wales set their own rules, so check the guidance where you farm.
How quickly do I have to fill in the register?
In England, within 36 hours of a move, tagging or death. In Scotland, moves and tagging go in within 48 hours, and in Northern Ireland moves go in within 36 hours. Reporting a move to the national system is a separate job with its own deadline.
Can I keep the register on a computer?
In England and Northern Ireland the guidance says so plainly. A spreadsheet or app works as long as it holds the same information as the paper register.
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Last updated 6 October 2026