You're looking through advertisements for pigs for sale and keep seeing the words "CPH required" sometimes the ads even say don't reply if you haven't got a CPH, but what is a CPH number?
CPH stands for COUNTY PARISH HOLDING and is a number issued by DEFRA that enables them to trace the movement of livestock, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, throughout the country. It is to help prevent the spread of disease and is required by law.
How do I get a CPH number?
To Obtain a CPH Number you must ring the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777.
Is it difficult to get a CPH number?
No it's very easy anyone can get one, just phone the Rural Payments Agency, all they want to know is your name, address and the address where the pig (or other livestock) is going to be kept. Give them the details and the number will be sent through the post to you.
Will they want to inspect my home to see if it's suitable for a pig?
No the Rural Payments Agency just issue the numbers noone inspects your premises to see if it is suitable for livestock.
How much does a CPH number cost?
Nothing, it's free.
I think thats called jumping through hoops....for nothing. Still as long as its free.
ReplyDeleteDear Amanda,
ReplyDeleteIt is called control, and helps stop people putting horses in burgers. Expect more to come in place now. Your pet pig can be eaten one day, and food needs traceability.
you are absolutely right
Deletewhy do you allow children to post stupid comments??
ReplyDeleteit might be free the now but it wont be for long its a ploy to make cash through regulations . i see marc brought up the horse meat scandle that was big corparations marc not someone wanting to keep a couple of goats and some chickens as pets , its bureaucracy went mad in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteCPH's have been around for decades. They are used to register people as livestock keepers, register the individual animals they keep to their holding and to record animal movements to and from the holding. The cph also indicates the county and parish the holding is in. Pet goats, cattle and pigs are still able to contract and spread diseases from and to commercially kept livestock. CPH numbers are one of the tools AHVLA has to record, monitor and control the spread of diseases such as Foot and Mouth and Bovine TB. There has never been, nor will there ever be a charge to obtain a CPH number. Its 15 minutes on the phone to get registered and then you receive a letter after roughly a week with your CPH number. Also you only require a CPH for poultry if you are keeping 50 or more.
DeleteIf you are looking at getting a micropig as an indoor pet would they give you your cph?
ReplyDeleteDo you need a CPH number for every animal? say i wanted 2 goats and 2 pigs do i need to phone for every animal?
ReplyDeleteYou need one CPH number for the area of land which you will be grazing, whether it is a field or a back garden. Each animal and in your case will have a separate tag number which will need to be registered to your holding number so that its movements can be traced. You can do this electronically via the AML system for both sheep and pigs
DeleteI have chickens and ducks 48 in total (only for private use-eggs)- so I don't need CPH at the moment but I am getting 2 little goats and the seller wants to see my CPH number. I applied over the phone- 40 minutes wait to be connected and additional 20 minutes answering questions etc...Once I receive the number what should I do? Any tips please? Do I need to buy diaries and record the goats and do I need to do that for the chickens also? Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteThe best place to answer all questions about keeping any live stock either as pets or commercially is the AHVLA section of the DEFRA website
ReplyDeleteAsking for a friend.... She got a pig back in 2014 and the lady that dropped the pig off said all she needs is the cph number. My friend got the cph. She now has to move and trying to rehome him is proving difficult as the pig doesn't have a heard number. any advise on what she should do ?
ReplyDeleteAsking for a friend.... She got a pig back in 2014 and the lady that dropped the pig off said all she needs is the cph number. My friend got the cph. She now has to move and trying to rehome him is proving difficult as the pig doesn't have a heard number. any advise on what she should do ?
ReplyDeleteHi I have tryed ringing this number on my mobile and get no dialing tone is there another number that anyone has got please
ReplyDeleteYou have to pay for to phone them on a mobie i have had that problem before
DeleteCan i apply for a holding number online? If so how do i go about doing it?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this summary on CPH number...for a detailed summary supporting this subject matter, please see this post, Do Smallholders Have To Register For A CPH Number?"
ReplyDeletethinking of getting a micro pig how many licences do you need to get to keep it as a pet
ReplyDeleteHello, I want buy a pig for meat o need the cph number if I kept the pig just couple of hours? Thanks
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ReplyDelete