These rules apply to anyone in England who keeps deer on land enclosed by deer-proof fencing, whether the deer are farmed for meat, skins or breeding, kept for performance work such as reindeer, or kept as pets. They do not apply to wild deer.
Who must tag deer and when
Before you can tag deer you need a county parish holding (CPH) number from the Rural Payments Agency and a herd mark from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Deer should already be identified when they arrive on your holding. You must make sure they are tagged or tattooed before they leave the holding or are tested for TB.
What you must do when deer move
What to have in place
- A CPH number from the Rural Payments Agency, and a temporary land association if you use land you do not own or rent land for less than a year.
- A herd mark from APHA, kept up to date if your details change.
- Ear tags or tattoo equipment showing UK, your herd mark and a number unique to each animal.
- A Livestock Information Service account for reporting movements.
If you do not follow the rules
If you do not follow the rules you can face movement restrictions on your herd, reduced subsidy payments, fines or prosecution.
Keeping deer in England: tagging, movement and record keeping rules (opens in a new tab)
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Read it on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk