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6 steps to completing the annual inventory for sheep, goat and deer keepers

26 November 2024

Sheep standing in a field

This year’s annual inventory forms for keepers of sheep, goats and deer in England are being circulated towards the end of November. Our experts have outlined the 6 steps you need to take when submitting your inventory.

You must complete the annual inventory with the number of sheep and goats on your holding on 1 December 2024 and return the completed form by 31 December 2024.

Defra has said keepers who have not received a form by 11 December should get in touch to make sure they receive one. You can contact Defra on: 03459 335 577 or via email: [email protected]. It is also worth checking spam or junk folders to ensure the email has not ended up there accidentally before contacting Defra.

1. Submitting your response

Responses can be submitted digitally at: or can be returned with the letter sent out to those submitting hard copies.

From 2025 onwards the inventory will only be available online. If you do not receive a paper form this year, you can complete your inventory online.

This year serves as a worthwhile opportunity to consider whether the digital submission is a more efficient way to carry out this requirement for your business, particularly as the online submission becomes mandatory next year.

As with previous years, Defra will be collecting keeper/holding data from the inventory, allowing it to improve its work on future policy development, as well as maintaining disease control standards.

2. Do I count sheep that are on different holdings?

You must record all your sheep (including rams and lambs) and goats under each location where they are kept. If you have sheep or goats on rented grazing or common land, these should also be included providing you retain keepership of them.

If you do not retain day to day care and control of your animals while on temporary grazing, the receiving keeper must ensure they include these animals on their inventory.

This should include all of your CPH (County Parish Holding) numbers where sheep and goats are kept. This should reflect where any kept sheep and goats are on 1 December. It is also important to ensure that any CPH numbers are up to date with the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) too.

If necessary, you can contact the APHA via telephone on 03000 200 301 or email [email protected] to confirm your CPH(s) if you are unsure about your CPH number(s).

You must also remember to record the annual inventory total in your holding register

3. Is the annual inventory compulsory? 

It is important that the annual inventory is carried out, as it is an offence under law not to submit it.

Failure to do so can increase your chance of a future farm visits. Failure to keep the annual inventory total in your holding register could be viewed as a significant breach and may lead to fixed penalties in the future.

4. What to do if you no longer keep sheep or goats

You must complete sections 1 and 4 on the form even if you no longer keep sheep or goats. You are required by law to tell the APHA within 30 days that you are no longer keeping sheep or goats.

You can contact the APHA via telephone on 03000 200 301 or email [email protected].

5. What should I do if I receive multiple forms?

If you have received multiple inventory forms, then you should complete all forms but not duplicate your responses on them.

If only one inventory form is needed in the future, then complete one form in full, and then add a comment on the subsequent forms explaining that all animals are on another inventory form, as well as the CPH number of the first inventory. Then, return both back to Defra or submit both forms online. This will prevent two forms from being sent in the future.

6. Who to contact for help

You can call Defra on 03459 335 577 or read the online guidance at: if you need further support.

This page was first published on 27 November 2023. It was updated on 26 November 2024.

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