Animal health and welfare

Identification and traceability

Pig identification and traceability are a vital part of animal disease control in Scotland.  In the event of a disease outbreak, it is important that all animals can be identified and movements traced quickly and efficiently to prevent the spread of the disease. The Scottish Government provides guidance on pig traceability.

All pig keepers must comply with current animal identification, notification of movement and record keeping requirements. The number of pigs on the holding must also be recorded in the holding register.

Moving pigs

All movements of pigs must be reported either prior to the move or on the day the pigs move to ScotEID the body responsible for maintaining the national database. The pig keeper at the destination must then confirm the arrival of the pigs to ScotEID within 3 days.

Standstill period

When pigs arrive on your holding, your holding will be under a movement standstill, so other livestock may not be moved off your holding for a specific period.  Pigs moving onto your holding will trigger a 20 day standstill period on the movement of other pigs and a 13 day standstill period for cattle, sheep or goats. Moving cattle, sheep or goats onto your holding will trigger a 13 day standstill period on any pigs moving off your holding.

There are exemptions if you have a separation agreement in place, for more details on this you should contact your local Rural Payments and Inspections Division office.

See our guidance on:

• Keeping pet pigs
• Keeping veterinary medicine records
• Feed hygiene for farmers and growers
• Food chain information 
• Food hygiene for farmers and growers
• Welfare of farm animals during transport
• The keeping and movement of pigs