Welsh sheep and goat inventory due before 1 Feb

Welsh farmers are reminded they must complete and return their 2018 Annual Sheep and Goat Inventory by 1 February.

The form, which this year can also be completed online, is a legal requirement and failure to submit a return means an increased risk of being selected for an inspection.

NFU Cymru livestock board chairman Wyn Evans said: “Farmers should have received the forms by 1 January 2018 and, with a relatively short time period left to get the inventory form completed, I would urge all sheep and goat keepers to prioritise this work.”

See also: Guide to quarantine units in Wales

The form should include the number of sheep and goats of which the farmer is the registered keeper, by CPH location, on 1 January 2018.

Farmers must also record the number of sheep and goats on 1 January in their on-farm flock record to avoid a potential cross-compliance penalty. Farmers who want to submit their form electronically must have first registered with the EIDCymru service.

Farmers in England and Scotland were required to complete a similar inventory, but they had to note the animals on-farm on 1 December 2017.

In Northern Ireland, there was a deadline of 5 January 2018 to record the number of sheep held during 1-5 December 2017.