Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lists-of-recognised-animal-breeding-organisations

Change description : 2025-04-23 12:50:00: We’ve updated the contact information for Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders’ Society in the list for ‘recognised breed societies for ovine species’. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-02-14 15:25:27.099617530 +00:00..2025-04-23 11:50:54.672149554 +00:00

Guidance

Lists of recognised breed societies and breeding operations

Recognised breed societies for bovine, ovine, porcine and caprine species, and recognised breed operations for hybrid breeding pigs.

Documents

Recognised breed societies for equine species

Details

Defra lists recognised breed societies for bovine, ovine, porcine and caprine species.

It also lists recognised breeding operations for hybrid breeding pigs.

The list of recognised equine breed organisations is also available.

Zootechnical rules and standards support trade in:

  • purebred breeding cattle
  • sheep and goats
  • pigs and hybrid pigs
  • equines
  • genetic material of all these animals

Read the guide to zootechnical certificates and how to get one.

Read about the work of the Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee.

Contact: ukglesecretariat@defra.gov.uk

Member State colleagues

Send your queries, including notifications about the extension of the geographical territory of breeding programmes into the UK to ukglesecretariat@defra.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 1 November 2012

Last updated 1423 FebruaryApril 2025 + show href="#full-history">+ show all updates
    1. The telephone contact number for the Gloucester Cattle Society has been updated to 07425 458404.

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Update history

2025-04-23 12:50
We’ve updated the contact information for Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders’ Society in the list for ‘recognised breed societies for ovine species’.

2025-02-14 15:25
The telephone contact number for the Gloucester Cattle Society has been updated to 07425 458404.

2025-01-13 11:57
Updated the contact details for the Valais Blacknose Society on the ovine list.

2024-10-11 14:03
Updated the list of recognised breed societies for ovine species.

2024-09-17 11:33
Updated the contact details for the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association on the ovine list.

2024-09-06 09:55
Updated the contact details for the Dutch Spotted Sheep Society on the ovine list.

2024-08-16 15:22
Updated the contact details for the Hereford Cattle Society on the bovine list.

2024-07-16 11:49
Updated the contact details for the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society on the ovine list.

2024-04-08 15:23
Added a new entry (The Gascon Cattle Society) to the recognised breed societies for bovine species list.

2024-03-26 14:48
Updated address for Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association on the ovine list.

2024-02-13 07:47
Added new society (Cymdeithas Defaid Iseldir Lliw – Coloured Down Sheep Association) to HTML attachment for Recognised breed societies for ovine species.

2024-01-24 10:13
Updated the telephone number for Ouessant Sheep Society on the ovine list.

2024-01-23 13:44
Updated address for Ouessant Sheep Society on the ovine list.

2023-08-22 11:57
Added British Boer and Meat Goat Association to the list of recognised breed societies for caprine species.

2023-05-23 09:38
Updated contact details for The British Parthenais Society in ‘Recognised breed societies for bovine species’.

2023-03-22 15:51
Updated the ‘Recognised breed societies for bovine species’ list to show recognition for the European Angus Cattle Society will be removed from 31 March 2023.

2023-03-02 16:49
Updated address and contact details for the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Societyon the Bovine list.

2023-02-21 08:54
Updated the ‘Recognised breed societies for caprine species’: The British Boer Goat Society – withdrawn from recognition from 8 February 2023.

2023-01-12 12:31
Updated address for British Boer Society on the Caprine list.

2023-01-09 14:28
Updated the address for Longhorn Cattle Society and the email address for Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society in ‘Recognised breed societies for bovine species’. Updated the email address for Suffolk Sheep Society in ‘Recognised breed societies for ovine species’.

2022-11-28 16:26
Updated list of recognised UK breed societies for caprine species. Further 30-day herd book suspension for The British Boer Goat Society.

2022-10-06 14:58
Updated address and contact details for Beltex Sheep Society in ‘Recognised breed societies for ovine species’.

2022-09-20 13:41
Updated the recognised breeding societies for ovine species list with new contact details for the Dutch Spotted Sheep Society.

2022-08-11 11:19
Recognised breed societies for ovine species: updated the Valais Blacknose Society name and contact details.

2022-07-07 14:38
Changed the email address fangr@defra.gov.uk to ukglesecretariat@defra.gov.uk.

2022-06-28 09:11
Updated the list of recognised breed societies for bovine species

2022-06-08 12:26
Have added a suspension note for ‘The British Boer Goat Society’ under the caprine species list. Note reads “6 month herd book suspension implemented from 17 May 2022”.

2022-04-22 12:50
Updated list of recognised UK breed societies for caprine species.