Animal health and welfare

A cow in a field
There is a wide range of legislation in the UK designed to protect the health and welfare of both domesticated and wild animals.

We are responsible for: 

  • Inspecting farms, markets and slaughterhouses
  • Carrying out livestock vehicle checks
  • Inspecting and sampling feeding stuff
  • Licensing pet shops, cat and dog boarding premises, riding schools, breeding establishments and dangerous wild animal premises


Farm animals - record of medicines

Records must be kept of any medicines given to farm animals that will end up as food.

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Horse registration

All horses - including ponies, asses, mules and donkeys must be registered.

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Pet food

This page contains information about the sale of pet foods including labelling and what needs to be...

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Poultry registration

Any business or keeper of poultry with 50 or more birds is required by law to register its flock...

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Rabies and the importation of animals

There are strict conditions that must be followed when animals are moved from other countries into...

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Slaughter of cattle

Live animals (if fit to be transported), known or suspected to be injured or showing signs of...

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Transport of animals

This page gives you more information about what is required when transporting animals.

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Animal by-products

Animal by-products are animals and parts of an animal that have died or have been slaughtered.

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Animal feedstuffs

If you mix certain feedstuffs on your own farm or you use contractors to mix feedstuffs on your...

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Animal health inspections

Farm inspections and inspection of livestock markets are carried out by the Animal Health and...

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Avian Flu outbreak 2008

Details of the Avian Flu outbreak and how it affects South Gloucestershire

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Cattle passports

A cattle passport is a government issued document. All cattle born after 1st July 1996 must have a...

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Cattle tagging

All cattle must be tagged with Defra-approved ear tags. There must be one yellow ear tag that is...

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