Apply now for the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme
Type Media Article
The National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) has been revised to offer increased financial support to sheep farmers while promoting higher standards of animal health and welfare. The updates feature higher payment rates and new welfare actions, demonstrating the government's dedication to improving animal welfare standards and ensuring the viability of the sheep sector.
Ábagh Harten, Walsh Scholar, Teagasc Ballinrobe
The scheme will be payable to sheep farmers on the number of eligible breeding ewes within the flock. Payment will be increased from €8 to €13 per ewe following the completion of three specific welfare actions. This increased payment will mean payments of €25 per ewe in 2025 when combined with the Sheep Improvement Scheme. Farmers must complete 2 actions from Category A which are mandatory and one action from Category B which is voluntary.
Category A (Mandatory)
- Shearing
- Body Condition Scoring Ewes and appropriate follow-on management.
- Clostridial vaccination of ewes.
Category B (Optional)
- Footbathing
- Plunge Dipping to control external parasite.
The scheme is currently open for applications with a closing date of 15th of May 2025. The completion of 3 chosen actions are mandatory for the full payment of €13 per ewe. Where a farmer fails to complete both the Category A and Category B actions selected upon application no payment will be made and an administrative penalty of 20% (€2.60 per ewe) on the overall amount which would have been paid will be applied.
The scheme payable number is based on the average of the three Sheep Census returns for eligible breeding ewes declared in the years 2022-24. Where the 2024 census return is higher than the average the farmer can claim upto to the 2024 number. The number of breeding ewes selected by the applicant at the time of application as their payable number is the number of breeding ewes they must carry out their selected actions on.
Farmers opting for the Shearing action must complete it by either the 17th of October or the 28th of November 2025, as selected during the application process, and provide documentary evidence of its completion.
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) of ewes has being shown to have a significant effect on ewe productivity and the performance of her lambs. Farmers who choose this action must conduct Body Condition Scoring on all ewes twice, with an interval of eight weeks between assessments.
- The first Body Condition Scoring must be carried out between 15th of April-15th of July.
- The second Body Condition Scoring must be carried out between 1st August- 17th of October.
Vaccination against Clostridial diseases will help protect ewes from potentially fatal bacterial infections, improving overall flock health and welfare. Farmers who select this action, must have it carried out by the selected date on your application of either the 17th of October or the 28th of November 2025. Breeding ewes that have been vaccinated previously should be given an annual vaccination four to six months prior to lambing. If some or all of your breeding ewes are not in receipt of a Clostridial Vaccination, you may vaccinate lambs as an alternative. However lambs must be vaccinated from 3 weeks of age and a second booster no later than 4-6 weeks after the first vaccination.
The optional Category B actions include footbathing and plunge dipping. Footbathing will prevent the spread of infection between ewes. The aim is to keep the number of lame ewes in the flock below 5% at any one time. Farmers who select this action must conduct footbathing twice between April 1st and October 1st 2025.
For farmers who select plunge dipping it must be carried out by the selected date on your application of either the 17th of October or the 28th of November 2025 with documentary evidence of completion. Sheep showers do not qualify for payment under the NSWS.
Applications can only be made online at www.agfood.ie either by the applicant or their FAS advisor by 15th May 2025. For any queries regarding the National Sheep Welfare Scheme contact your local Teagasc office.