A date for your diary, the time for completing your sheep and goats annual inventory is fast approaching.

All keepers of sheep and goats in England and Wales must record the number of these animals that were on their holdings on a certain date. For keepers in England this date is the December 1 2016, whilst for keepers in Wales, the date is January 1,

2017. The eighth section in DEFRA holding registers is dedicated to the annual inventory and to remain compliant with the regulations, keepers must enter the appropriate number here each year, either on the same day, or a few days later.

Sheep and goat keepers must also look out for the inventory form from DEFRA, which is sent out by post or email throughout November. It requires the same information, plus numbers for any sheep or goats that were grazing common land on those specific dates. These forms must be completed and returned to DEFRA by 31st December 2016 for keepers in England, and 1st February 2017 for keepers in Wales.

It’s something sheep and goat farmers must only do once a year, but it is imperative to get it right. Failure to return these forms and enter this figure into holding registers can trigger a sheep inspection, which may lead to a breach in regulations and a minimum 3% deduction in BPS payments dependant on the rest of the on farm sheep records.

If you think your sheep records may be a little bit amiss, you’re probably not the only one, with SMR 8 (Sheep & Goat Identification & Records), 4th on the list of 2015 cross compliance breaches. However, this is no time to relax; the RPA are most likely to target the regulations found to have the highest number of non-compliances, with more force than other regulations.

Charles Mayson, Managing Director of Cross Compliance Solutions Ltd, explains The Sheep & Goat Annual Inventory is a legal requirement and sheepkeepers may incur inspections through failure to comply. It even applies to those with no sheep or goats and requires those who no longer keep sheep to declare the fact. Some sheepkeepers send their flocks away for wintering; if they are still the registered keeper the inventory must identify them. Those who have a Single Occupancy Authority are still obliged to report in the usual way. The best way for you to avoid facing deductions, is to keep your records in check and remember to complete your annual inventory.

It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3 ….

1) Save the date

2) Count your sheep and goats

3) Put pen to paper