Official Bodies and Helplines for UK Livestock Farmers
This is a who-to-ring list for UK livestock farmers: the government bodies and charities, not suppliers. It points you to each body's own page and does not replace what they tell you.
This page lists 19 official bodies and helplines for UK livestock farmers, split by what they do and which nation they cover. Each was checked on its own website in October 2026. The most useful tip: your cattle movement body depends on your nation, so check the movements section before you ring anyone.
No paid placements. Run a UK business that fits here? Email hello@farmhq.ai with your business name, area covered and website.
Who do I report a cattle movement to in each nation?
It depends on where the holding is. England and Wales report cattle to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), Scotland reports to ScotEID, and Northern Ireland reports to DAERA.
- England: report to BCMS within 3 days, through CTS Online or compatible farm software, and update your holding register within 36 hours.
- Wales: still BCMS today. The Welsh Government says cattle reporting is planned to move to EIDCymru in winter 2026, with dates not yet confirmed, and tells keepers to carry on with BCMS and not register cattle on EIDCymru yet.
- Scotland: notify ScotEID within 3 days. You register your land with RPID and your species with APHA first.
- Northern Ireland: notify DAERA on the day the animals leave or arrive, online where possible.
Markets and abattoirs often report for you, but both GOV.UK and ScotEID say the keeper stays responsible. In England, sheep and goat movements go through the Livestock Information Service, as GOV.UK describes. Welsh sheep, goat and deer movements already go to EIDCymru.
For the deadlines in detail, see our 3-day rule guide, the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland systems guide and the sheep movement guide.
Who do I ring about a suspected notifiable disease?
Ring the APHA line for your nation, at once. GOV.UK's get help with animal and plant health page shows three numbers, all open 24 hours, seven days a week: 03000 200 301 for England, 03000 600 704 for Scotland and 03003 038 268 for Wales. They are as shown on that page, so check it before you save them in your phone.
The same page says not to use its online Find the right team service to report a notifiable disease. That service is for other enquiries. If you suspect disease, use the telephone line.
Northern Ireland is different. DAERA runs animal health there, not APHA. Its contact page lists a line for animal health, animal welfare and veterinary public health queries, including disease control, at 0300 200 7840 as shown there. The page does not label it a disease-reporting line, so say plainly that you suspect notifiable disease when you ring.
APHA also sets bovine TB testing in England. Its letter tells you the test type, the dates and who will do it, and it handles movement restrictions and licences if you have a breakdown. Your vet is the first call for questions about preparing cattle. See our TB testing and movement rules guide.
Who regulates medicine records on a livestock farm?
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) sets and enforces the rules. Its guidance says you must record medicines given to food-producing animals and keep the records for at least five years. Records must be durable and permanent, and they can be electronic. If a vet gives a medicine, the vet must put the details in your records or give them to you in writing for you to enter.
The VMD's enforcement policy says it is responsible for making sure the regulations are enforced, usually starting with advice before formal action. Anyone can report illegal animal medicine activity through GOV.UK.
You do not send medicine records to the VMD. They must be available when a duly authorised person asks, and who that is varies. Durham County Council's animal health page says a scheduled farm visit by its animal health inspectors covers veterinary medicine records. Red Tractor members are assessed against its own standards, and its site links a responsible use of medicine training.
The VMD does not deal with complaints about vets or individual clinical advice. Its contact page sends vet complaints to the RCVS and animal health questions to APHA.
Our five-year medicine record guide and Red Tractor medicine book guide cover what to write down.
Who do I contact about my farm payments in each nation?
Each nation pays its own farmers through its own agency, so your holding's location decides who you contact.
- England: the Rural Payments Agency. Sign in to the Rural Payments service and use Create or view a query, or ring 03000 200 301 on weekdays between 8.30am and 5pm, as shown on its page.
- Wales: Rural Payments Wales. Messages go through your RPW Online account, and the phone line on its contact page is 0300 062 5004, weekdays, 9am to 4pm.
- Scotland: the Scottish Government's Rural Payments and Services. Its contact page lists 17 area offices, each with a phone number, and you can book an appointment.
- Northern Ireland: DAERA. Its contact page gives 0300 200 7848 for grants and funding queries, including the single application.
Ring the right line for the right job. The RPA also runs BCMS, which has its own helpline for passports and movements, so do not use the payments line for those. For the money side, our scheme payments and tax guide explains how to book them.
Which body inspects what on a livestock farm?
Several bodies visit, each for a different job. Knowing which is which helps you prepare.
- Cattle identification, England: Rural Payments Agency field officers. GOV.UK says they check at least 3% of holdings each year, looking at holding registers, tags, passports and timely recording.
- Disease and TB: APHA, which in England sets your bovine TB testing schedule and applies movement restrictions after a breakdown.
- Registers, movements and medicine records: your local council. Durham's page lists its animal health inspectors visiting farms, markets and licensed premises.
- Water pollution rules, England: the Environment Agency, which enforces the Farming Rules for Water through farm inspections.
- Farm assurance: Red Tractor, through independent assessors.
- Scotland: Rural Payments and Services lists cross compliance, land, animal welfare and other inspections.
On meat, the FSA covers food safety and hygiene in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland approves slaughterhouses and publishes the Scottish list. The FSA's own approved food establishments publication lists approved food premises in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our livestock ID inspection guide covers what to have ready.
Who do I call about pollution, tax or when things get heavy?
For pollution, use the 24-hour line for your nation. GOV.UK's report an environmental incident page gives the Environment Agency hotline for England as 0800 80 70 60. Wales uses Natural Resources Wales on 0300 065 3000. In Northern Ireland, DAERA says to call the NIEA hotline on 0800 807060 for emergency water pollution. In Scotland, SEPA's site links to a report an environmental incident page.
For tax, HMRC. Anyone with self-employment and property income over £50,000 must use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from 6 April 2026. Smaller farms may choose the Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme, an alternative to VAT registration that HMRC runs. Farming turnover must be below £150,000 to join. See our MTD sign-up guide and flat rate VAT guide.
For safety, HSE's contact page has a telephone service for reporting fatal and major injuries only. Northern Ireland has its own regulator, HSENI, which says it promotes and enforces workplace safety there. Our RIDDOR basics guide covers reporting.
When it all gets heavy, ring someone. The helplines are free and confidential, and are listed above and in the questions below.
What do farmers actually ask?
Is BCMS the same as the Rural Payments Agency?
BCMS is part of the Rural Payments Agency, which also pays farm schemes in England. BCMS runs the Cattle Tracing System for cattle in Great Britain. For a payment query, use the Rural Payments service. For a cattle passport or movement query, use the BCMS helpline on 0345 050 1234, as shown on its GOV.UK page.
Can I report a notifiable disease through the Find the right team service?
No. GOV.UK says not to use that online service for notifiable diseases. Phone the APHA line for your nation instead, which is open 24 hours a day: 03000 200 301 for England, 03000 600 704 for Scotland and 03003 038 268 for Wales, as shown on GOV.UK. Northern Ireland keepers contact DAERA.
Who can I ring when farming gets too much?
Three charities run free, confidential helplines that they show on their own sites. RABI offers 0800 188 4444, open 24 hours. The Farming Community Network offers 03000 111 999, from 7am to 11pm every day. In Scotland, RSABI offers 0808 1234 555, open 24 hours. In Northern Ireland, Rural Support shows 0800 138 1678 on weekdays, 9am to 9pm.
Who do I contact about the single application in Northern Ireland?
DAERA. Its contact page lists a grants and funding line, 0300 200 7848, which covers submitting a single application. You choose your topic from the menu and can then speak to an adviser. The page says text relay is available for people who are deaf or have speech impairments.
Do I send my medicine records to the VMD?
No. The VMD guidance says you must record medicines given to food-producing animals and keep the records for at least five years, in a durable form that can be electronic. They must be available on request for inspection by a duly authorised person. Read the VMD record-keeping guidance for the details.
Which body inspects cattle identification in England?
Rural Payments Agency field officers do. GOV.UK says the RPA checks at least 3% of holdings each year. A visit looks at your holding register, ear tags, passports and whether births, movements and deaths were recorded on time. Problems can lead to movement restrictions on animals or the whole herd, as set out on GOV.UK.
Sources
- GOV.UK: British Cattle Movement Service
- GOV.UK: Report and record cattle movements
- GOV.UK: Get help with animal and plant health
- ScotEID: Cattle traceability and record keeping, a guide for Scottish keepers
- GOV.WALES: Planned move from BCMS to EIDCymru
- DAERA: Notification of bovine movements
- DAERA: Contacting DAERA
- GOV.UK: Record keeping requirements for veterinary medicines
- GOV.UK: Cattle identification inspections, what to expect
- GOV.WALES: Contact Rural Payments Wales
- GOV.UK: Sign up your business for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
- GOV.UK: Report an environmental incident