Has anyone done this? Whats involved?
It’s been 25yrs since I worked livestock, a lot has changed… but the livestock still look the same!
there’s two tests - journeys under 8 hours and journeys over 8 hours
you do a test for each species, although Cattle and sheep count as one species for some reason known only to the NPTC !!!
for the under 8 hours it’s a test either computer based or paper based - think it’s 25 multi choice questions (some very easy with obvious answers, some that make you think a bit and a few obscure ones) SWMBO did this one - not many people fail, the only ones I heard of failing had literacy problems !)
the over 8 hours is a similar pc/paper test followed by a practical assesment which is two parts - a) answering questions and b) loading and driving the vehicle .
I’ve done horses and the first part for Cattle & Sheep and now waiting to arrange the second part !! ) (and short distance pigs as they messed up the exam when I did Cattle/Sheep)
You need to have passed by the beginning of april if you’re moving stock !
The livestock are still the same but welfare rules are a lot tighter than 25 years ago!
NPTC are doing testing, also some NFU groups are arranging them. I did mine through Bicton College and Haddon training
Is it like some jobs you have to be checked out before they let you near children, I guess some people need to be checked out before they get let near sheep. 
many thanks Denis, very helpful mate 
That reminds me… I saw a livestock (double decker) on the A55 the other day that peed me off to be honest.
The unit had a stack exhaust & the rig wasn’t very clean, & there was a load of exhaust soot all over the top corner of the trailer-obviously the poor sheep on the top deck weren’t very happy 
Andyroo:
Is it like some jobs you have to be checked out before they let you near children, I guess some people need to be checked out before they get let near sheep.
… do you know me then 
