23,720 Suckler Farmers Apply For Beef Welfare Scheme

A total of 23,720 suckler farmers applied for the Beef Welfare Scheme, according to the Depertment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The closing date for applications was Tuesday, September 24, and the scheme opened for application on August 8.

Farmers who applied to the scheme and complete the two necessary requirements will be eligible for a payment of €50/calf up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves.

Under the scheme, farmers can complete two actions, one of which is mandatory, and the other action is optional.

The two actions under the scheme are as follows:

• Action 1: Meal Feeding (Mandatory);
• Action 2: Vaccination (Optional).

The rate of payment for action 1 of the scheme is €35/eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves and the rate of payment for action 2 of the scheme is €15/eligible calf, also up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves.

According to the DAFM, payments will commence under the scheme in December 2024.

Suckler-bred calves born in the herd of the applicant between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 will be eligible for the scheme.

According to DAFM, the objective of the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 is “to further increase the economic efficiency of and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms.”

The maximum payment an individual suckler farmer can receive under the scheme is €2,000.

According to the scheme terms and conditions, under action one, calves must be supplemented with a compound feeding stuff containing appropriate minerals and vitamins for four weeks pre weaning and two weeks post weaning.

Receipts, invoices and labels of all compound feeding stuffs, and/or straights (feed materials) and complementary mineral mixtures purchased must be retained and made available for inspection and administrative check.

All feeding stuffs (including mineral feeds) must be sourced from registered or approved feed business operators.

Scheme participants who select action two also, must implement a vaccination programme against clostridial diseases and/or calf pneumonia in suckler calves.

Details of the vaccination programme must also be recorded. The maximum payment for this action is €15/calf regardless of whether the calf is vaccinated for one or both diseases.

(Source – Agriland – Breifne O Brien – 26/09/2024)