Sheep farmers welcome €25m welfare scheme
Mr Creed said the scheme will see sheep farmers gain a total of €25m in funding during 2017. Participating farmers will choose two actions from a menu of measure to protect the welfare of their flock.
Mr Creed said: “In designing the scheme, I was conscious that this scheme would have to take into account the different challenges faced by sheep farmers in lowland and in hill areas and I believe we have successfully struck this balance. The end result is a reflection of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, particularly farm organisations, carried out by my department in the last few months, plus intensive discussions with the European Commission.”
IFA sheep chairman John Lynskey noted that sheep welfare initiatives include tasks on lameness, mineral supplementation, parasite controls, flystrike, and scanning.
“Farmers will undertake the tasks at various times throughout the year and keep a record of the work,” said Mr Lynskey. “Participants will be subject to the normal inspection process.”
