Beef Welfare Scheme 2024

The objective of the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 (BWS) is to further increase the economic efficiency of and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms.

You can apply if you

• Are aged eighteen years or over on the date of submission of the application for participation.

• Are the holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner Status. Herd Keeper is not acceptable.

• Are farming a holding in respect of which a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Application is submitted in 2024 to the Department.

• Are a suckler beef farmer i.e. has eligible calves born to eligible suckler cows in the period 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024.

Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory Action)

Participants must introduce meal feeding for a period of 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post-weaning to reduce the stress on calves at weaning time.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional Action)

If action 2, vaccination, is selected at application stage, participants must implement a vaccination programme against clostridial diseases and / or calf pneumonia in suckler calves and record details of the vaccination.

Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory): the rate of payment is €35 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional): The rate of payment is €15 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves.

Payments will commence to cleared cases in December 2024.

Applications must be made on agfood.ie

The closing date for applications is 23.59hrs on 24 September 2024.

This is an outline of the Measure. You must read the Terms and Conditions for full information.

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