BEEP-S replaced with new National Beef Welfare Scheme
Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, outlines the new National Beef Welfare Scheme, what it entails and how farmers can apply.
Today, August 3rd, sees the launch of the new National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS) by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The new scheme - which is funded by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) - is a one year programme and it essentially replaces the old BEEP-S scheme. In BEEP-S, applicants had to weigh the unweaned cow and calf with the option of either meal feeding pre and post-weaning or vaccinate calves and optional faecal sampling.
For the new scheme, the weighing component no longer features as it now part of the Suckler Cow Efficiency Programme (SCEP); the faecal sampling and the calf vaccination have also been dropped.
What actions are to be carried out under NBWS?
Firstly, there are no optional components this time around, both required measures are mandatory.
1). IBR testing
Each participant must commit to participate in the IBR testing action managed by ICBF on behalf of DAFM. They are required to engage a PVP (vet) who will blood sample and test up to 20 bovine animals per herd, ideally 9 months old (if feasible) or above if present in the herd, or all ages if there is less than 20 in the herd for IBR gE antibodies. Where a herd has 20 or more bovines, a minimum of 20 must be tested. Where a herd has less than 20 bovines, all must be tested. Payments per head are set out below.
Number of bovines tested - payment rates:
- Between 2 to 6 animals (inclusive) - €120
- Between 7 to 10 animals (inclusive) - €180
- Between 11 to 15 animals (inclusive) - €250
- Between 16 to 20 animals (inclusive) - €300
2). Meal feeding
Participants must introduce meal feeding for a period of four weeks pre-weaning and two weeks post-weaning to reduce the stress on calves at weaning time. Eligible suckler calves are those born between 1st July 2022 and 30th June 2023. The rate of payment is €35 per calf for a maximum of 40 calves.
Applications
Applications open online on www.agfood.ie on August 2nd and will remain open until midnight on 12th September. Applicants may apply themselves online or they can get their approved FAS advisor to apply. It is important to note that there is no late application facility with this scheme so the 12th September will be the final date for applications
Once you make an application, it will be up to you to make contact with the vet (PVP) to arrange the IBR blood testing. The vet will then send the samples to one of the DAFM approved labs. Because DAFM hope to make payments for the scheme before the end of 2023, both actions of meal feeding and IBR testing will have to be undertaken by 1st November.
The maximum payable in the scheme is €1,700. So for example, a 50 cow herd with 50 weanlings would get paid as follows:
- IBR testing - €300 (20 animals tested)
- Meal feeding - €1,400 (max. 40 weanlings (€35 x 40))
- Total payment - €1,700
A herd of seven cows and seven weanlings would get:
- IBR testing: €250 (14 animals selected)
- Meal feeding: €245 (7 weanlings x €35)
- Total payment: €495
As with all schemes, there will be a level of checks by DAFM. So particularly for the meal feeding action, make sure you have meal dockets to show that calves were fed for the month before weaning and that they are not sold within two weeks of weaning. The receipt of the correct number of blood samples by an approved lab will confirm the IBR testing requirement.
If there is something you need to clarify before you apply for the scheme speak with your consultant/advisor. It goes without saying that it is another income stream that you should seriously consider.
The full terms and conditions of the scheme are available on the DAFM website.