Animal Health and Welfare
We are the enforcement authority for farm animal welfare and for disease prevention on farms, during transportation and at markets. We check all of the markets in Devon for this purpose and also undertake spot checks on farms and livestock vehicles.
We provide an animal health and welfare advice line for farmers on:-
0845 1551999
Farmers can also contact us through this website.
We are responsible along with other agencies including DEFRA, Her Majesties Customs and Excise and the Police for enforcing the legal control measures to prevent Rabies entering the UK. In addition, should any farm animal disease be confirmed within the UK and or in Devon we have contingencies in place to work with the above agencies and other organisations to eradicate it.
Most livestock currently moves from place to place under the controls of a General Licence. Notification of movements must be made to the local authority where the destination premises is located, for instance if a Devon farmer buys sheep from Yorkshire, then they must inform us when the sheep arrive on their livestock holding in Devon. (Notification of Cattle movement must be made to the British Cattle Movement Service).
Our Animal Health Operations Unit processed 40,654 animal movement notifications in the 12 months from 01/04/03 to 31/03/04.
We also investigate breaches of the General Licence and other disease and welfare issues.
Additional Information for Farmers
