You can find comprehensive information on all aspects related to keeping farm animals including welfare and transporting animals on the government's animal welfare pages along with downloadable guides. If you are concerned for a farmed animal's welfare, please contact the animal health and welfare service on the below contact details.

If you are concerned for a domestic animal's welfare, including horses, the RSPCA provide advice and guidance on individual issues and have an online query service or a 24hr cruelty line, telephone 0300 1234 999.

The animal health team ensures animals are being kept according to regulations and are involved in:

• Responding to complaints regarding animal welfare, animal disease and animal carcasses
• Emergency response for animal disease outbreaks
• Inspections of livestock markets to maintain high standards of animal care
• Checks on vehicles used to transport animals
• Inspections at farms, slaughterhouses, renderers and knacker yards to encourage good practice and compliance with the law
• Liaison with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), other local councils and agencies to improve co-ordination and consistency in animal health and welfare compliance
• Licensing the movement of animals in cases of disease outbreak
• Advice and help on animal health and welfare
• Contingency planning for major notifiable disease outbreaks, for example rabies, foot and mouth