Suckler Welfare Scheme
The Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds in Ireland which has been approved by the European Commission will run for a maximum of five years from 01 January 2008 until 31 December 2012.
Objectives The objectives of the Scheme shall be to:
- Enhance welfare standards for animals produced from the suckler cow herd.
- Improve husbandry standards at weaning time leading to reduced illness and mortality and enhanced health of the National herd.
- Provide education and knowledge building among farmers on best practice in suckler herd health and welfare.
- Improve the genetic quality of the National suckler herd.
- Improve the competitiveness of the Irish beef industry and the quality of the beef produced.
Eligibility To be eligible to participate in the Scheme, a farmer shall:
- Be aged eighteen years or over,
- Be farming a holding for which all land parcels will be declared every year of the contract under the EU Single Payment Scheme.
- Undertake to implement, for the full term of the Scheme, Measures 1 to 6 on all eligible suckler cows and the calves they are suckling kept on his/her holding. Payment shall be limited to a maximum of 100 eligible suckler cows kept by the applicant. However, the requirements of the Scheme apply to all suckler cows, and calves reared by those cows (whether born on the farm or bought in) kept on the holding. Measure 7 shall also be compulsory.
- Record all details of each undertaking in each Measure through the Animal Events System
Payments An annual payment of €82 (where the applicant is reporting the animal events online) or €80 (where animal events are reported manually) per eligible suckler cow up to a limit of 100, will be made following confirmation of compliance with all the undertakings of the Scheme. It is permitted to vary the number of cows on the applicant's holding from year to year in the Scheme.
