Sheep Improvement Scheme

The Sheep Improvement Scheme provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock. Farmers get €12 per breeding ewe for completing flock welfare measures.

To qualify for the scheme you must:

• Submit a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for each year of scheme participation.

• Submit a sheep census return for each year during the lifetime of the scheme with Breeding Ewes declared on it.

• Submit a 2024 Sheep Census return on time.

• Have an active herd number – or be a new entrant – and keep breeding ewes

• Maintain the required number of breeding ewes during the scheme

You must complete two welfare measures to qualify for payment.

It will also be necessary to complete the Genotyped Ram action at least once within the first three years of scheme participation.

If you have a reference number of breeding ewes of 150 breeding ewes or less, you will only need to complete the Genotyped Ram action once. If you have a reference number greater than 150, you will have to complete the Genotyped Ram action twice over the lifetime of the scheme, once within the first three years of the scheme and once in any subsequent scheme year.

The targeted welfare areas include:

• lameness control

• mineral supplementation of ewes post mating

• meal feeding lambs post weaning

• parasite control (faecal egg count)

• management of pregnant ewes (scanning)

• flystrike control

• mineral supplementation of lambs pre-weaning

• Genotyped Ram Action

You must also maintain the necessary records and comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Sheep Improvement Scheme including those undertaking parasite control must use the approved list of laboratories for sampling.

The Sheep Improvement Scheme has been introduced to enhance animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and requires farmers to go beyond mandatory standards. These are the conditions of the scheme.

You are paid €12 per breeding ewe and the scheme year will run from 01 January to 31 December annually. Reductions in payment will apply where not all actions are completed. See FAQ’s below.

The Scheme is now open for Year 3 to eligible New Entrants from Tuesday 25 March 2025 to 23.59pm, Tuesday 29 April 2025.

Applications must be submitted online by midnight on Tuesday 29 April 2025

To apply online, go to: agfood.ie

If your login or password has expired and need to be renewed, please contact the department’s Online Services Helpdesk.

Alternatively, you can authorise a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved Advisor to apply on your behalf. For a listing of approved advisors please go to: Farm Advisory System (FAS)

• Hill flocks may not choose both Mineral supplementation of lambs Pre Weaning and Meal feeding of lambs Post Weaning.

** Applicants must select the year(s) in which they will carry out the ram genotyped ram action.