New Sheep Welfare Scheme Welcomed by Sheep Farmers

Enda Maloney, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport

After a tough spring on all farms due to poor ground conditions and high feed costs, farmers are finally starting to see the weather take a turn.  On the 8^th April the department launched a National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) for sheep farmers with payment paid on eligible breeding ewes. The scheme will pay farmers €8 per ewe following the completion of two selected actions. The scheme will run from 1^st January 2024 to 31^st December 2024, however actions selected must be completed by 15^th October 2024.

Applicants to the NSWS must:

• Have an ovine Active DAFM herd number
• Submit a 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS)
• Submit a 2023 National Sheep Census by February 14, 2024.

There are four actions in the scheme and applicants must complete in full Two actions, one from each category.

Completion of both actions are mandatory for payment.

• Where only the Category A or only the Category B action has been completed payment will be €2.00 per ewe.
• Where neither the Category A action nor the Category B action have been completed no payment will be made and an administrative penalty of 20% (€1.60 per ewe) on the overall amount due to the farmer which will be imposed.

Farmers who select the Shearing action, must carry it out by 15^th October 2024, and documentary evidence of completion of this action will include

• Completion of the scheme action record sheets
• Receipts from a shearing contractor and/or evidence of sale of the wool to a wool merchant.

Farmers that select the Body Condition Scoring (BCS) of ewes, must carry it out twice within the timeframes below and the assessment dates must take place eight weeks apart:

• First BCS assessment must be carried out between 15^th April – 15^th July 2024.
• Second BCS Assessment must be carried out between 1^st August – 15^th October 2024.

For category B, farmers must choose one from the two options mentioned in the above table. If picking the vaccination of breeding ewes against Clostridial diseases it must be completed by 15^th October 2024.  Breeding ewes vaccinated previously should be given an annual vaccination four to six weeks before the expected lambing date.  If all or some of your breeding ewes are not currently in receipt of a Clostridial Vaccination, you may vaccinate lambs as an alternative.  Lambs must be vaccinated from 3 weeks of age and a second booster vaccination must be administered no later than 4 - 6 weeks later.

If a farmer selects plunge dipping, it must be completed by 15^th October 2024. Plunge dipping can be carried out on farm where the flock owner has their own plunge dip or by a mobile plunge dipping service operator. Sheep showers do not qualify for payment under the NSWS. Records for sheep dip purchased must be retained by the farmer

Applications can only be made using the online facility at www.agfood.ie either by the applicant themselves or by an approved FAS advisor authorised to act on their behalf.  So if completing your BISS application over the next few days and weeks ask your advisor about this new scheme.  The scheme is now open for applications with the closing date on Tuesday, 21^st May 2024.