In this guide
1. Introduction
Anyone responsible for cattle must follow the requirements set by the Cattle Identification Regulations.
A cattle keeper is any person who is responsible for cattle on a permanent or temporary basis. This includes during transportation or at a gathering point. The keeper may not be the owner of the animals and may be:
- farmers
- people who run livestock markets, collection and assembly centres
- transporters
- dealers who keep animals
- people who run slaughterhouses and lairages
- people who keep cattle as pets
In official guidance, the term ‘cattle’ always covers all 3 species (cattle, bison and buffalo) unless specified.
By law there are tasks that cattle keepers must carry out, both before you take responsibility for animals and once animals are in your care.