Two schemes have been opened within the livestock sector aimed at “driving further efficiencies” within the industry. Worth €45 million, the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Sucklers (BEEP-S) as well as the Dairy Beef Calf Measure have applications available through agfood.ie with the closing date on Monday, 25 April.
The Dairy Beef Calf Measure has a budget of €5 million this year and is set to increase the economic and environmental efficiency of beef from the dairy herd. According to the Department of Agriculture the aim of the measure is to facilitate further the integration of the dairy and beef sectors by providing support for farmers who are rearing progeny from the dairy herd. This includes the weighing of eligible calves, for which there is a payment of €20 per calf, up to a maximum of 40 calves.
BEEP-S has a funding provision of €40 million and targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves by measuring the live weight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow’s live weight. Applicants to the scheme can also select from a number of optional health and welfare measures, including meal feeding; or vaccination of weanlings and/or faecal egg testing of suckler cows. Applicants to BEEP-S will see participants eligible for up to €90 for the first 10 suckler cow/calf pairs per herd, and up to €80 per pair thereafter, subject to an overall maximum of 100 pairs per herd, if all actions under the scheme are applied for.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue says with the launch of these schemes that he is committed to the long-term support of sustainable beef farming, supporting Ireland in their ambition to build capacity as a world leader in sustainable food systems over the next decade.
LSL News.