Slaughterhouses: how to check, report and record sheep and goats
What you must do when sheep and goats arrive for slaughter, including identification checks, and recording and reporting movements.
Applies to England
When sheep and goats arrive at your slaughterhouse you must:
- check they’re correctly tagged
- record the arrival in a holding register
- report the arrival online to the Livestock Information Service (LIS)
Following these rules means that animals can be traced at all times to help prevent and contain disease.
It’s your responsibility to follow the rules to avoid penalties such as a fine or prosecution.
Check animals are correctly tagged
You should only receive animals correctly identified with tags from tag suppliers approved by the Rural Payments Agency.
Sheep can sometimes lose tags while travelling to a slaughterhouse. A Food Standards Agency official vet may not let the slaughtered animals into the food chain if:
- a large number arrived without tags
- they’re not satisfied with the origin of an incorrectly identified animal, including any with missing or no tags
Visually check a sample of between 2% and 5% of each incoming batch of animals to make sure they’re correctly tagged. The smaller the batch, the higher the percentage of animals you should check.
Read how the sending keepers must ensure that they correctly:
- tag sheep with ear tags, pastern bands and boluses
- tag goats with ear tags, pastern bands and boluses
Animals with electronic identification (EID) tags
All sheep must, and goats may, have EID tags. These can be scanned to collect official identification numbers.
However you capture the official identification numbers, you must include them in your online movement report on LIS.
If you want to provide your scanned list of official identification numbers back to the sending keepers for their holding registers, you’ll need to be an approved central point recording centre (CPRC). You can apply to APHA to operate as a CPRC.
You can choose to use reading equipment, such as a portable handheld scanner or stationary race reader, to capture the official identification numbers.
A handheld or portable reader should be able to read:
- an EID ear tag from 12cm
- a ruminal bolus EID from 20cm
A stationary race reader should be able to read all types of of tags from 50cm.
It’s recommended that you use equipment that complies with the International Standards Organisation (ISO)’s standards on radio frequency identification of animals (standards 11784 and 11785).
You might not need to scan EID tags if you’re only processing a small number of animals - for example, a small batch of sheep where you do not have their official identification numbers but you can see these on their tags. You must include them in your online LIS movement report.
If the sender has not given you the official identification numbers from any EID tags, you need to:
- scan the lambs’ (and any kids’) slaughter tags and record the official identification numbers - this is because only the flock or herd mark is printed on those tags
- in adult animals with a pair of tags, either visually check and record the official identification number on the tag, or scan it
EID tags must not be re-used. Destroy them or dispose of them securely (for example you can send them to an animal by-product (ABP) processing facility with the heads of animals).
Check for adult sheep incorrectly tagged as lambs
Lambs intended for slaughter within 12 months of age may be tagged with a single slaughter tag.
Lambs (or sheep) older than 12 months must have been double tagged as adults.
Keep a record of any animals that you think are older than 18 months but tagged with a single slaughter tag. You’ll need to make these records available to your local council if requested.
Request food chain information
Before any animals are slaughtered, you must make sure:
- you know the origin of the animal
- the keeper sends you the food chain information
Keepers can provide this information:
- in their LIS-1 movement document
- through their LIS account if they reported the outbound movement to your slaughterhouse online
- through their farm software, if it’s linked to LIS
- as a separate document
There is more food chain information on the Food Standards Agency website.
Keep a holding register
You must record every sheep or goat movement on to your premises in a holding register. You need to keep the register for 3 years.
Read how to keep a holding register and what you need to record.
Report arrivals (‘on movements’) to the Livestock Information Service
You must report the arrival of any sheep or goats at your slaughterhouse within 3 days.
You must do this online using either:
- the LIS website - you’ll need to create an account
- your management software if it’s linked to LIS - check with your provider
How to report on movements
If the sending keeper has already correctly entered all of the required details of the movement off their holding on LIS, that information should be visible in your LIS account. So you’ll only need to confirm the movement onto your holding.
If the sending keeper reports movements using the paper LIS-1 movement document, rather than online, you must complete details of the off movement online too. This includes:
- the holding the animals were sent from
- the haulier’s details
You’ll need the animals’ official identification numbers, including if they’re lambs under 12 months old tagged with a slaughter tag.
If the market or collection centre scanned the animals’ EID tags, you can view the official identification numbers in your LIS account. You do not need to scan the tags and you can correct any errors such as missing official identification numbers.
If the animals have been sent from a farm and the official identification numbers are not on the LIS-1 movement document, you’ll have to gather them yourself. You can do this visually (where possible) or using a reader.
If you miss the 3-day deadline
If you cannot submit a report within 3 days (for example because you have a power failure) you should:
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contact Trading Standards at your local council - they might be able to confirm a temporary exemption from some recording and reporting requirements (for example, capturing official identification numbers to include in your movement reports)
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send copies of the LIS-1 movement documents to LIS so that they can temporarily record the moves for you - tell them why you cannot give the official identification numbers
If farmers make mistakes with their movement documents, you can suggest that they report movements online using LIS. The system checks that all details are correct before reports can be submitted.
Get help or advice
Read the registration and user guides on the LIS website or contact LIS if you need help reporting movements.
Livestock Information Service
Email: support@livestockinformation.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 573 0137
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Updates to this page
Last updated 15 June 2023 + show all updates
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Page title has changed from 'Abattoirs: report and record sheep and goat arrivals' to 'Slaughterhouses: how to check, report and record sheep and goats' to reflect the page content, which includes checking animal identification and food chain information. Slaughterhouses is the more commonly used term. Page content has been reviewed for accuracy and new information includes links to guides on tagging sheep and goats.
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Due to the launch of a new movement reporting system, updated the guidance and links from the Animal Reporting and Movement Service (ARAMS) to the Livestock Information Service (LIS). The link to food-chain information requirements for abattoirs has been updated.
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First published.