Cattle
From initial registering your herd through to the final product packaging and labelling.
Updated 17 June 2024
Housing cattle
Depending on your soil, climate and breed of cattle you may not need to house your cattle in winter. However they must have access to shelter – for example trees or an open fronted shed – in the worst of the weather and must have access to a well-drained lying area. (The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010
You must not damage your soil through poaching or erosion in wet weather – this can happen around feeding areas especially on sloping ground. This is a requirement of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 5.
If you do house your cattle you should keep any calving cows separate from other animals. The housing should be well-ventilated with plenty of natural light. You must allow enough space both for lying down and feeding – see here for a table showing the minimum requirements for different sizes of cattle.
If your cattle are organic, the space requirements are defined a little differently – check your certifier’s standards. Additionally, at least half of the area must be solid floor – that is, not slatted.