Suckler welfare applications needed before 2008 calvings

DETAILS of the new €235m suckler welfare scheme will be sent to all potentially eligible farmers shortly. It is open to all suckler farmers, including those with both suckler and dairy animals. Participation is voluntary.

The closing date will be March 31, 2008. However, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan said it was vitally important that farmers submit a completed application form before their suckler cows start calving in 2008, so that animal events information can be recorded for each calf. A payment of €80 per cow, on up to 100 cows, is available to farmers who undertake from January 1, 2008 onwards to comply with the following six measures.

* Animal events recording involves collecting data on breeding (sire, etc) and animal welfare (ease of calving, calf mortality, dates of disbudding, castration, commencement of meal feeding and weaning). Farmers who apply to the scheme will be issued with animal events books (also available electronically), which will be used to notify registration of calves, and events relating to breeding, ease of calving etc.