Newport City Council’s Animal Health Service helps to control the movement of livestock, preventing the spread of animal disease and protecting animal welfare through the issue of certain licences.

Farmed animals

Movement and control

Farmers and others who move livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs (with certain exceptions) can do so under general licence.

Most movements carried out under a General Licence are subject to certain conditions including restriction on the movement of animals from premises on which other livestock has arrived – the stand-still period.

This is generally a full six day stand-still for cattle, goats and sheep, and a 20 day stand-still for pigs, unless movement within the six days is exempt, e.g. slaughter.

Sometimes an Individual Movement Licence is required prior to movement taking place from a high risk premises, e.g. the movement of pigs from a market.

Cruelty

Contact the Animal Health Section below to report cruelty to farmed animals including sheep, cows, pigs and horses.

Stray animals

Stray farm animals (except horses) on the public highway should be reported to the Animal Health Section below and the police.

Stray horses should be reported directly to the police.

Welfare

Livestock should be transported in a humane manner, visit the .gov.uk website (opens new web site) for details including:

• Animals should be fit to travel
• Transport and trailers should be well designed and constructed so as not to cause injury or suffering
• Competent and trained people should load, unload and transport animals
• Vehicles must be properly cleansed and disinfected, with adequate ventilation and protection from the weather
• Animals must not be over-crowded

Disposal of animals and animal by-products

There are strict controls over the disposal of fallen stock and animal by-products such as animal carcases, blood, fish, feathers, hides, skin and also catering waste that contains meat or products of animal origin.

The approved method of disposal depends on the risk involved, but the two main methods are incineration and rendering.

Farm animals, including horses, must not be burnt or buried on farm.

Dead animals, including horses, on council land will be picked up by a collector.

Dead animals on private land are the responsibility of the land owner. Contact the Animal Health Section below for advice or visit the Defra website (opens new web site).

Other animals

Licences

The Animal Health Service licences:

• Dog Breeding
• Dog Boarding Kennels/Catteries
• Riding Establishments
• Pet Shops
• Keeping exotic, dangerous or wild animals

When applying for a licence the council's Animal Health Inspector will inspect the premises to ensure animal health and welfare is protected.

A fee is payable when applying for a licence.

Poultry

There is no licence system for keeping poultry such as chickens.

Anyone keeping over 50 birds has to register their premises with the Animal Health Divisional Office in Carmarthen on 01267 245400.

Poultry keepers in domestic premises are restricted from feeding any kitchen waste to the birds under the Animal By-Products Regulations 2006.

Noise nuisance will be dealt with by the council’s Environmental Health Section.

Cruelty

Contact the RSPCA (opens new web site) to report cruelty, injury or distress to domestic or wild animals.

Trapped animals

Contact City Wildlife Care (opens new website) can help release wild animals trapped in gardens or garages.

Horse passports

All horses and ponies need a passport identifying the animal and if there is no valid passport it is an offence for an owner to:

• Export a horse
• Use a horse for the purpose of competition
• Move a horse to the premises of a new keeper
• Present for slaughter for human consumption
• Sell a horse
• Use a horse for breeding purposes

Read more on the Gov.UK website (opens new web site).

Rabies control

The UK has been free of rabies for decades but there is concern about rabies being reintroduced by imported animals.

All animals susceptible to rabies entering the UK are required to spend six months in quarantine unless they arrive under the conditions of the Pet Travel Scheme (opens new website).

If you suspect that an animal has been imported into the country illegally, or may be infected with rabies contact the council below.

Visit the DEFRA website (opens new web site) for further information.

Foot and Mouth disease

Any incidents of animal disease must be reported to the council’s Animal Health section below.

Foot and mouth is an infectious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer which is serious for animal health and for the economics of the livestock industry.

Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a disease affecting animals including sheep, cattle, deer, goats and camelids (camels, llamas, alpacas, guanaco and vicuña).

It does not affect horses or humans.

Bluetongue is characterised by changes to the mucous linings of the mouth and nose and the coronary band of the foot.

The disease is caused by a virus spread by certain types of biting midges. Bluetongue is present when it is confirmed by laboratory tests that the Bluetongue virus (BTV) is circulating in an area.

Animal Health Section
Newport City Council
Telephone: (01633) 656 656

Email: info@newport.gov.uk

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