What is a CPH number?
‘CPH’ stands for County Parish Holding and is an administrative registration number issued by the Rural Payments Agency, an executive agency of DEFRA. Hence the adapted term, CPH number.
It is also known as a ‘location number‘.
CPH numbers are a legal requirement for owners of certain types and quantities of livestock, whether hobbyists or full scale industrial farmers.
This administrative unique land identifier is essential and to be used in conjunction with any herd or flock numbers you possess.
What is a CPH number used for or what is its purpose?
The number is used by the UK Government for reporting on the location and movement of livestock. This is essential for monitoring and management of outbreaks of disease such as TB. It also used as part of applications for agricultural grants or subsidies.
Requirements do slightly differ between England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
The CPH number is a 9 digit number which allows the government to identify your farm smallholding or rural business.
It is encoded according to ‘county (3 digits)‘, ‘parish (3 digits)‘ and ‘holding (3 digits)‘ and can immediately geographically pinpoint your land to the authorities.
There are both permanent and temporary CPH numbers, depending on the use of the land.
If the use is for seasonal grazing only, for example, then the number issued is a temporary one – where the use of the land for livestock purposes is continual, the number issued will be permanent.
CPH Registration Numbers are required for holding most types of livestock/animals:
- For…
- cattle (including bison and buffalo)
- deer
- sheep
- goats
- pigs
- poultry (50 or more birds)
Is is important to know that all owners of the above livestock including those keeping them individually as pets, as in the case of micro pigs, are required to register a CPH number for the area of land where the animal will be kept.
Are there any further nuances pertaining to a registration?
Since 2016, under the CPH Rationalisation in England, a smallholder must register all the livestock land used within a 10-mile radius, measured from the place in which the stocked animal(s) usually gather, or the correspondence address.
Some farmers and smallholders who may have historically held multiple CPH registrations for different sites are now able to merge them to a single number…provided that all locations fall with the 10 mile radius.
Whilst the example above doesn’t cover everything associated with the registration requirements, we hope it gives a little insight and feeds your interest to find out more.
How to get, find or obtain a County Parish Holding number for your smallholding?
Applying for CPH number by application form is relatively simple. Just contact the Rural Payment Agency with the following:
- – Single Business Identifier (SBI) – if you already have one
- – Business name
- – Land location (land parcel reference number(s), postcode or OS grid reference(s))
- – Details of your tenure
- – Planned activities on your land
- – Contact details
CPH Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
How much does a CPH number application cost?
At the time of writing (11/10/2017), application cost of a CPH is free of charge and simple to request.
How to check if I absolutely need a CPH number?
Simply contact the Rural Payments Agency. Call: 03000 200 301.
Is there anyway I can search a CPH list, or cross reference a central registration database?
The UK Government publishes datasets of CPH numbers in annual inventory round-ups, which you can view by visiting: UK Government CPH Datasets(this digital internet resource also offer geographical maps of rural land register).
Looking to do a bit more research about CPH number online?
Read the UK Government’s official guidance papers and publications – we have provided a few links below:
- Get a CPH number from the rural payments agency
- Simple rules for livestock movements in the UK
Are you looking for ways in which you can increase your smallholding profitability?
Take a look at our recent post offering 20+ smallholdings business ideas.
FAQs
Save time registering as a livestock keeper
What is a flock number? ›
Flock and herd marks are unique combinations of numbers (and letters for pigs and deer). They're used on tags (and other identifiers, such as tattoos) to identify where animals were born or last tagged. This is so the animals can be traced to help prevent and contain the spread of disease.
What is the county parish holding number in Scotland? ›
The CPH is a nine digit number, the first 2 digits relate to the county, the next 3 relate to the parish and the last 4 digits are a unique number to the keeper e.g. 12/345/6789 The CPH is a crucial factor in identifying the actual holding animals are being moved from and to.
How do I get a holding number in Wales? ›
To keep livestock (sheep/goats/cattle/pigs/deer) you need a County Parish Holding (CPH) number. To apply for a holding number call the Welsh Government on 0300 062 5004.
How do I register a small holding in Scotland? ›
Register your new business with the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Department using a PF01 form available from www.ruralpayments.org. You will receive a unique Business Reference Number which is required to apply for rural funding and grants.
How do you get a flock ID? ›
Call 866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824) to obtain a flock ID number. request up to 80 free plastic tags. different type of tag, you can purchase your own official tags from an approved tag manufacturer, once you have a flock ID number.
What is the difference between a group and a flock? ›
A flock of birds, sheep, or goats is a group of them. They are gregarious birds and feed in flocks. You can refer to a group of people or things as a flock of them to emphasize that there are a lot of them.
What is the Scottish Land Registry? ›
About the land register
It records ownership of land and property in Scotland. Introduced in 1981, the land register is based on the Ordnance Survey map. It provides property owners with a state-backed guarantee of title.
How do I find my CPH? ›
To get a CPH number, you should use manage my CPH on RPW online. If you are not an existing RPW online customer, you can register by clicking on the Register link on the same page. If you have any problems, call the customer contact centre on 0300 062 5004.
What is a CPH holding number UK? ›
You must get a county parish holding ( CPH ) number for land and buildings used to keep livestock for any purpose, including those kept as pets. It's sometimes referred to as a holding number. You must do this so that the government knows where livestock are kept and can trace them to help prevent and control disease.
We register the ownership of land and property in England and Wales. HM Land Registry is a non-ministerial department.
What is the difference between a croft and a smallholding? ›
Crofts (Scotland) are smallholdings, although there is a legally-defined tenure for a croft, but not for a smallholding. Smallholdings can be comprised of families, individuals or communities, where people pool resources to hold land together.
What is a registered smallholding UK? ›
A smallholding is a home with a piece of land larger than a garden but smaller than most farms. This land can be used to grow crops or rear animals. Generally acknowledged to be anything with fewer than 50 acres of land, smallholdings can range from small, allotment-style plots to, essentially, small mixed farms.
What is the CPH number in Scotland? ›
They will give you a County Parish Holding (CPH) number which is a unique code allocated to the land where animals are kept - this is used when reporting and recording animals moving on to or off your holding.
What is flock used for? ›
This market experienced a resurgence in the 21st century with upholstery fabric, shoes, bags and even the Hanes® underwear label being flocked. Today, flock can be used to finish almost any surface to create an attractive, textured appearance and add practical characteristics to the product.
What is flock ID for sheep? ›
To request official sheep and goat tags, a flock or premises ID or both, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824).
How many make up a flock? ›
Two or three birds are generally not thought of as a flock, but there's no set number of birds that is needed to call it a flock. For birds that are most often seen in large groups, like starlings or ducks, a half-dozen of them in a group would not be called a flock.
Why is it called a flock? ›
The word flock actually predates most of these more arcane terms, as it was first attested in the 13th century CE, and is believed to have arisen from the Old English flocc, meaning “a crowd or band,” which in turn likely evolved from the Old Norse flokkr, which carried a similar meaning.
