Animal Businesses & Farm Services

• Artificial Insemination

  • The artificial insemination of cattle can only be carried out by a licenced person. For more information on how to obtain a licence please contact Farm Services.

• Milk Recording Service

  • This is a monthly service and is a requirement of contracted dairy farmers. It involves the collection of information on the milk production and quality. The information is processed by National Milk Records in the UK and a report is sent to farmers.

• Animal Health Testing

  • There is a legal requirement for cattle to be regularly tested for a number of diseases and owners must assist with this process. Each year a proportion of the Island cattle herds are tested by arrangement with the owners.

• Animal Identification & Notification of Ownership

  • The owner of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats must legally give written notice of each of the following events, within 14 days of the event -
    • (a) the acquisition of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats,
    • (b) the birth of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats,
    • (c) the importation of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats into any of the Islands, or
    • (d) an approved method of identification being lost or destroyed or becoming illegible.
    • Please complete the following online form or contact Farm Services (01481 225740, farmservices@gov.gg) to provide this information.
  • There is a legal requirement for all cattle, sheep, pigs and goats to be identified by means of eartags, slap-marks, or pastern tags depending on the species.
    • Follow this link for the information on tagging pigs, sheep and goats.
    • Tagging (or re-tagging if a tag is lost) of cattle must be requested from (or reported to) Farm Services.

• Guernsey Slaughterhouse

  • All cattle, sheep, pigs and goats that are slaughtered for human consumption must be slaughtered at the slaughterhouse.
  • The slaughterhouse is operated by a private licensed slaughterman and slaughtering normally takes place on Mondays.
  • Animals must be booked for slaughter by prior arrangement with the slaughterman and there is a charge for slaughtering and for the use of the facilities. Charges can be found here. 
  • For further information on meat traceability, drug residues and withdrawal periods, follow this link. All livestock to be slaughtered for human consumption must be accompanied by the food chain information declaration, which can be downloaded by following this link.

• Disposal of animal carcases

  • Livestock and horses that die or are euthanised cannot be disposed of at a landfill site or buried on private land. 
  • Where the cause of an animal's death is known or they have been euthanised by a vet or a licensed slaughterman they may be transported to the incinerator by the slaughterman for cremation.
    • Prices for incineration can be found here. 
  • Where the cause of death of an animal is unknown the animal should not be moved before the States Veterinary Officers has been informed.
  • Carcases cannot be delivered to the incinerator for disposal by the owner. Please contact the Slaughterhouse and incinerator for assistance. 

• Transporting animals

  • A person who transports livestock or horses in the Island has a duty to ensure that the animals are transported in a vehicle that is suitable for that purpose, and in a manner that does not cause an animal harm or unnecessary suffering.
  • A person who transports animals on a commercial basis to the United Kingdom or mainland Europe must have a vehicle that meets the requirements of European Community rules on the welfare of animals during international transport and to comply with any operational or other requirements specified in those rules. Contact the States Vets for further information or guidance.
  • Vehicles used to transport animals to the slaughterhouse must be cleaned and disinfected before they leave the slaughterhouse. Livestock keepers are advised to use only sufficient clean bedding to provide sufficient grip on the floor during travel and sufficient bedding to soak up urine or clump around faeces. After unloading livestock, keepers, hauliers or carters must remove all bedding from their vehicles, wash the vehicle and then disinfect it at the slaughterhouse. Tyres, wheels and wheel arches must also be cleaned and disinfected before departure. Failure to clean and disinfect vehicles may result in future consignments not being accepted at the slaughterhouse.

• Other Farming and Small Holdings

  • Whilst dairy farming is the main commercial agricultural activity in Guernsey, other forms of farming are carried out, either in conjunction with dairy production or as a separate, commercial, semi-commercial or hobby activity.
  • Other forms of farming include:
    • livestock production for meat (mainly beef, pork and lamb)
    • crop production (potatoes and a variety of other vegetables)
  • Local beef is produced from Guernsey cattle that are not suitable or no longer suitable for milk production or by cross breeding Guernsey cattle with beef breeds of cattle. The cross breeding of Guernsey cattle to beef breeds for beef production is strictly controlled to ensure that the Guernsey cattle breed remains pure. Guernsey cattle can only be bred to Guernsey bull or their semen through artificial insemination or a limited number of approved beef breeds whose semen is used to artificially inseminate Guernsey cows but they must colour mark their offspring at birth. Male cross-bred Guernsey cattle must be castrated by 6 months of age and female cross-bred Guernsey cattle must be slaughtered before they are 2 years old.
  • There has also been a growing interest in small holding (growing crops, keeping small numbers of livestock or a combination of both) and in growing on allotments and in previously commercial greenhouses.
  • Farm Services provide a number of services to farmers and smallholders.
  • The Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services also provide a horticultural laboratory service, further details can be found by following this link.

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