Livestock Insurance

Livestock keepers need mortality and theft cover on agreed animal values, transit cover for markets and shows, and farm public liability because the Animals Act 1971 makes keepers liable for damage their animals cause. The gap we see most is notifiable-disease losses assumed to be covered when standard policies exclude them.

Cover this trade usually needs

Cover	Why it matters	Typical limit
Livestock mortality and theft	Death from fire, lightning, accident or theft of animals	Agreed or market value per head
Transit and market	Animals in your trailer, a haulier's vehicle or at market	Highest value carried at one time
Farm public liability	Straying stock, injured walkers and road accidents	£2m–£5m
Employers' liability	Handling injuries to farm staff; compulsory if you employ anyone	£10m (legal minimum £5m)
Disease extension	Some losses linked to notifiable disease, where a market offers it	Sublimited and conditional

Key risks

• Stock break through a fence onto a road and cause a collision.
• A barn fire or lightning strike kills housed animals.
• Sheep or cattle are stolen from remote grazing.
• Animals are killed or injured when a trailer overturns in transit.
• A notifiable disease outbreak restricts movement and sales.

Regulations and licences

• Animals Act 1971 — keeper liability for damage caused by animals.
• Animal Health Act 1981 — notifiable disease controls and compensation for animals culled by government order.
• Welfare of Animals (Transport) rules for moving livestock.
• Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 where staff are employed.

What we check before quoting

• Species, head count and how animals are valued — market, pedigree or agreed value.
• Housing, fencing and road frontage.
• How often stock travels and who carries it.
• Theft history and security for outlying grazing.
• Any staff, contractors or public footpaths across the land.

Gaps we see most often

• Pedigree or breeding animals insured at market rather than agreed value.
• Transit cover ending at the farm gate when stock goes by a third-party haulier.
• Assuming government disease compensation covers all losses — consequential losses are not included.
• No public liability for stock grazing on rented or let land.

Limits clients and contracts usually ask for

• Farm public liability £2m–£5m; employers' liability £10m.
• Mortality cover on agreed values per animal, with higher-value animals scheduled individually.

Key facts and sources

• The Animals Act 1971 sets out when keepers of animals are strictly liable for damage the animals cause. legislation.gov.uk — Animals Act 1971
• Suspected notifiable animal diseases must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. GOV.UK — Notifiable diseases in animals
• The Animal Health Act 1981 provides the legal framework for disease control and compensation for animals slaughtered under it. legislation.gov.uk — Animal Health Act 1981

Common questions

Am I liable if my cattle get onto the road?

You can be. The Animals Act 1971 sets out when keepers are liable for damage caused by their animals, and a collision with straying stock is a common farm liability claim. Public liability is the cover that responds.

Does insurance pay if animals are culled for disease?

Compensation for animals culled under government order is paid under the Animal Health Act 1981, not by insurers. Standard policies usually exclude notifiable disease; some specialist markets offer limited cover for associated losses.

Can I insure a single valuable animal?

Yes. High-value breeding stock, bulls and show animals can be scheduled individually on an agreed value, often with a vet's certificate.

Are animals covered while at market or a show?

Only if transit and away-from-farm cover is included. Check it covers your own trailer, a haulier's vehicle and time spent at the venue.