RPA inspection

sean m

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Northants
as above got one next week,sheep only,what are the usual problems for them,already told me they need to read 60 random tags and count every sheep on the farm,at least it's not hot :rolleyes:
 

gatepost

Member
Location
Cotswolds
Log into ARAMS so that you can check the movements they have on record for you, and make sure your licence copies and records match ARAMS, and then have it open when inspector is going through records, so that you and he can see if his list doesn't match ARAMS, which it should having been in theory generated by ARAMS, not always the case!
 

exmoor dave

Member
Location
exmoor, uk
If your records don't match ARAMS because of others (markets) mistakes, make sure your own records are up to scratch.

Last autumn we had a sheep inspection and arams was just completely different to what my records said but I had full farm software records using EID, had kept all movement licenses and also had continued to fill in the flock book (just as batches), so we passed fine.


Dig out some deadstock tickets to have ready.


The 60 random tags to read, I just had the 250 ewe lambs in the yard and the chap read 60 of them, I knew their tags were all correct.
They then want to find 5/10 of those tag numbers in your records.
 

Pan mixer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Near Colchester
Make sure that your book is up to date - with tagging dates and numbers, retagging dates and cross references, born, sold, died and annual inventory too.

They will want to read tags, count the rest of the sheep in other fields - and want to know the field number where they are etc. I happened to have a farm map printed out on A4 (from the RPA site and they took that away happily with numbers of sheep in each field recorded by them from their count.

All movement records should tie up, annual inventory of December 16 or 17 should tie up with the number of sheep on your farm today taking into account births, deaths and sold animals too.

Not too scary if your records are right.

When they read the tags of mine, the very first one had a tag missing, they were happy that I retagged it in front of them and then recorded the retagging. All tags must be locked away as well apparently.

Then we had cake.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Thankfully not with the tinpot Hitlers from RPA but just had a RPW sheep inspection yesterday, so Welsh version of same. Make sure you're records are right regarding movements and deaths. Then movements were checked against EID Cymru's database and my recorded deaths against knackerman tickets (for which a dead box creates a little 'vagueness'). Checked 80 odd EID tags and counted all sheep in the fields that I showed her (I didn't need a map or field numbers, so could have checked next door's I guess) to tally with numbers on record. Also noted down lamb numbers, which can only be an educated guess on most farms that aren't tagging everything at birth I'd have thought. If you've got everything up to date, then no great problem and another box ticking exercise done.

Must be the season for it. I had a phone call yesterday afternoon to arrange a FAWL inspection.
 
thanks everybody,does'nt sound to bad,just a bad time of the year when we are flat out dipping,[emoji99]
If you've been dipping the ewes, I'd suggest you insist that they were correct protective equipment. Wellies, full water proofs and probably gloves. Pray for a cool day so they don't get to hot........
Of course trading sheep during they day if it is not is an animal welfare issue so perhaps suggest they come early 5am or late in the day 6pm to avoid heat stress on the animals. [emoji16]
 

d-wales

Member
Location
Wales
If you've been dipping the ewes, I'd suggest you insist that they were correct protective equipment. Wellies, full water proofs and probably gloves. Pray for a cool day so they don't get to hot........
Of course trading sheep during they day if it is not is an animal welfare issue so perhaps suggest they come early 5am or late in the day 6pm to avoid heat stress on the animals. [emoji16]
I agree. It's would be a welfare issue to gather sheep in this heat. Wait until 8pm at least
 

mghley

Member
Location
Derbyshire
Had one last week:-
All sheep on holding to be available for inspection and counting if needed. I had all numbers at hand and inspector happy to drive around various groups.
All breeding sheep to be double tagged.
EID read 60 tags and traced first 6 through records to point when they came on to holding
Licences on and off checked and make sure all ear numbers attached.
All movements recorded in records.
Deaths recorded and proof of disposal.
Ear tagging of lambs and replacements recorded.
Retagging of ewes recorded
Births recorded.
Annual inventory recorded. Sending back annual census is not compulsary but recording numbers in your records is.
Inspector told me completing the front page of your records with address holding number etc is a cross compliance fail if not completed.
Also they blood tested 20 ewes for a brucellosis test.
A lot depends on the attitude of the inspector however I also believe you can do a lot to help yourself and creating a good first impression and putting the inspector at ease can only help your cause !
 
Had one last week:-
All sheep on holding to be available for inspection and counting if needed. I had all numbers at hand and inspector happy to drive around various groups.
All breeding sheep to be double tagged.
EID read 60 tags and traced first 6 through records to point when they came on to holding
Licences on and off checked and make sure all ear numbers attached.
All movements recorded in records.
Deaths recorded and proof of disposal.
Ear tagging of lambs and replacements recorded.
Retagging of ewes recorded
Births recorded.
Annual inventory recorded. Sending back annual census is not compulsary but recording numbers in your records is.
Inspector told me completing the front page of your records with address holding number etc is a cross compliance fail if not completed.
Also they blood tested 20 ewes for a brucellosis test.
A lot depends on the attitude of the inspector however I also believe you can do a lot to help yourself and creating a good first impression and putting the inspector at ease can only help your cause !
God I can't believe you all have to go through that.
 

Qman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Near Derby
Had one last week:-
All sheep on holding to be available for inspection and counting if needed. I had all numbers at hand and inspector happy to drive around various groups.
All breeding sheep to be double tagged.
EID read 60 tags and traced first 6 through records to point when they came on to holding
Licences on and off checked and make sure all ear numbers attached.
All movements recorded in records.
Deaths recorded and proof of disposal.
Ear tagging of lambs and replacements recorded.
Retagging of ewes recorded
Births recorded.
Annual inventory recorded. Sending back annual census is not compulsary but recording numbers in your records is.
Inspector told me completing the front page of your records with address holding number etc is a cross compliance fail if not completed.
Also they blood tested 20 ewes for a brucellosis test.
A lot depends on the attitude of the inspector however I also believe you can do a lot to help yourself and creating a good first impression and putting the inspector at ease can only help your cause !


Why oh why do we have to go through all this nonsense? We were promised fewer regulations and now we keep getting more. What is the reason you have to say when you placed the eartag in the sheep's ear? Do you have to put what time of day it is?

All they want is to control us and they are succeeding because we are such a soft bunch of pussies. We are all pathetic to put up with this.
 
I got inspected in 2016, they came out the blue, read every tag number on the place, did have some red tags in a box, but alot of ewes missing a tag or two, in the end a got a 3 percent fine and told to keep retagging ones that lose a tag. They were at my place about 4 times over a week. To be fair they were very helpful and tried to help you as much as they could,
 
Why oh why do we have to go through all this nonsense? We were promised fewer regulations and now we keep getting more. What is the reason you have to say when you placed the eartag in the sheep's ear? Do you have to put what time of day it is?

All they want is to control us and they are succeeding because we are such a soft bunch of pussies. We are all pathetic to put up with this.
Control is what it is all about.
 

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