Ireland Commences €5.98 Million Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme Payments

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced the commencement of payments under the second year of the CAP Strategic Plan Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme. This initiative aims to enhance animal health and welfare within the national dairy herd by encouraging the use of superior genetic merit beef sires.

A total of over €5.98 million is being distributed to approximately 9,175 participating farmers, benefiting 299,839 dairy beef calves. This represents a 17.4% increase in the number of calves supported compared to the first year of the scheme. Each eligible calf will receive a payment of €20, with a cap of 50 calves per applicant herd. The payments are expected to appear in farmers' bank accounts in the coming days.

The scheme is part of the broader CAP Strategic Plan, with eligibility criteria for calves born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Farmers with inquiries about their payments can contact the Department through a dedicated helpline or email address.

Minister Heydon emphasized the importance of this scheme in improving the genetic quality and welfare of dairy beef herds, which is crucial for the sustainability and productivity of the sector.