Pig identification and registration: guidance for keepers

Section 3: the holding register

To protect the health of your livestock, and to improve pig traceability, you must keep a register of the pigs on your holding (you should keep a separate register for each holding you use). This register will hold information about your pigs, the holding and any movements of pigs on or off your holding.

You can keep your register, in any format you wish; however, it must contain at least the following information:

• the name and address of the keeper, including CPH number
• the date the pigs were moved
• the address and CPH number where the pig(s) were moved from
• the address and CPH number where the pig(s) were moved to
• the number of pigs moved
• the temporary mark or identification number, including the unique individual identification number, if applicable

This information must be recorded in the holding register within 48 hours of a movement on or off your holding. You must keep your records for a minimum of three years (even if you stop keeping pigs) and you must make your records available for inspection if required. Every keeper, other than a transporter, must complete a holding register. Once a year you must record the number of pigs on your holding in your holding register.

The ScotEID database has an on-line holding register which you can elect to use as your records. You can choose to use this to keep all your holding register information or in part, with other information kept on your holding in paper or on your own farm software.