New BEEP Scheme For Suckler Farmers With €90/Cow Payment Set To Be Announced
An updated Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) for suckler farmers is set to be announced tomorrow with a maximum payment of €90/cow.
BEEP (SUCKLERS), which has a funding provision of €35m in 2020, will target the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves – measuring the live weight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow’s live weight.
In recognition of the important role of animal health and welfare in economic and environmental efficiency, participants in the programme will also be encouraged to implement a number of optional health and welfare measures.
If programme participants complete all of the mandatory and optional actions available, they will be eligible for a payment of up to €90 for the first ten suckler cow/calf pairs per herd, and up to €80 per pair thereafter, subject to an overall maximum of 100 pairs per herd.
Programme actions are as follows:
- Mandatory Weighing Action: €50 per first ten cow/calf weighing per herd (and €40 per cow/calf weighing thereafter), This action measures the ratio of calf weight at weaning to maternal weight, enabling farmers to readily identify their most economic and environmentally efficient suckler cows in their herd.
- Optional Action: €30 for an additional welfare action, with a choice of either a vaccination programme or a pre-weaning meal feeding programme. This action will improve the health and welfare of suckler calves at weaning time.
- Optional Action: €10 for a further option – participation in a faecal egg testing programme. This action is targeted at the control of liver and rumen fluke in adult suckler cows, improving animal health and welfare.
(Source – Irish Independent – Indo Farming – Online Editors – 11/03/2020)
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