Starting your first sheep flock: a UK beginner's guide

If you’re thinking about your first sheep, congratulations — and also, brace yourself. Sheep keeping in the UK is wonderful, but the admin around it is genuinely confusing for newcomers because no single source explains the whole sequence.

This is that sequence, in plain English.

1. Land

You need somewhere to keep them. Roughly 6–10 ewes per hectare is a reasonable starting estimate for permanent grazing — vary with grass quality and breed. You also need shelter (a hedge can be enough), fresh water and fencing that actually contains sheep. Stock fencing is the standard; a single wire on top stops jumpers.

You don’t have to own the land. Renting or having a grazing agreement with a landowner is fine — you just need their written permission to register it.

2. CPH number

Every piece of land where you keep livestock needs a County Parish Holding number. Free, takes 2–4 weeks. Full guide here.

3. Flock number

Once you have a CPH, apply to APHA for a flock number for your sheep. It’s a separate 6-digit identifier. Sheep tag numbers are based on it — every lamb you tag will carry your flock number for life.

4. Tags

In the UK, sheep need:

• An electronic ID (EID) tag in one ear
• A visual tag with the same number in the other ear

(Slaughter lambs going to slaughter under 12 months can have a single slaughter tag — but for almost any other purpose, you need the pair.)

You buy tags pre-printed with your flock number from APHA-approved suppliers (Shearwell, Allflex, Roxan).

5. Movement records

Every time a sheep arrives at or leaves your holding, you have to record the movement and report it to AMLS (the Animal Movement Licensing Service). On-farm movements between different CPHs also count.

There’s a 6-day standstill rule: when sheep arrive at your holding, no sheep can leave for the next 6 days. (Some exceptions apply — slaughter, veterinary.)

6. Medicine records

Every dose of medicine you give a sheep has to be recorded. We’ve written a whole post on it.

7. Now buy your sheep

Only at this point should you actually buy animals. Buy from a known source — a local farmer, a known auction, ideally not from a Facebook post 200 miles away. Ask about the flock’s health status (MV-accredited? Footrot-free?). Take a knowledgeable friend if you can.

For your first sheep, choose a hardy breed suited to your conditions — not the showiest one. Welsh Mountain, Hebridean, Shetland and Herdwick are all forgiving for new keepers.

8. Records from day one

Your first ewe deserves records from her first day. You’ll thank yourself in twelve months when you can answer “how much did this ewe weigh last spring?” in two taps.

Tractr is built for new flocks — free to start, no jargon, mobile-first. Try it.