€4 Million Dairy Beef Weighing Measure: Boosting Irish Cattle Sector with €20 per Calf Incentive

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17 days agoPWG Publications

Introduction to the 2025 Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme

In a significant move to support the Irish cattle sector, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced the 2025 National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme (NDBWS). This initiative is funded to the tune of €4 million and aims to enhance the economic and environmental efficiency of beef from the dairy herd by providing a payment of €20 per eligible calf. The scheme encourages the integration of dairy and beef farming practices, offering a key opportunity for both dairy and non-dairy farmers to benefit from rearing dairy beef calves.

Key Features of the Scheme

The 2025 NDBWS is designed to be user-friendly, with a straightforward application process. Key elements include:

Eligibility Criteria: To qualify, farmers must be the owners of an active herd number with Herd Owner status, have a valid Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for 2025, and have male calves of dairy breeds or calves sired by beef breeds born to dairy dams in their herds[2].
Age Requirement: Eligible calves must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of weighing and registered on the farm for at least 10 days prior[2].
Birth Period: Calves must have been born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 to be eligible[2].
Payment Structure: A payment of €20 will be made per calf, with farmers required to weigh and submit weight data for between 5 and 50 calves[2][3].

Objectives of the Scheme

The primary objectives of the 2025 NDBWS are multifaceted:

Integration of Sectors: By supporting farmers who rear dairy beef progeny, the scheme aims to further integrate the dairy and beef sectors. This integration is expected to enhance market outlets for dairy beef calves and provide business opportunities for beef farmers[1][3].
Environmental and Economic Efficiency: The scheme is aligned with the Government’s strategy to increase the economic and environmental efficiency of beef production from the dairy herd. This includes improving calf health and welfare, which are critical for sustainable farming practices[1][2].
Resilience Building: A robust dairy beef strategy will help the sector withstand future challenges, ensuring a stable and competitive agriculture industry in Ireland[1].

Application Process and Timelines

Applications for the 2025 NDBWS can be submitted online via the Department’s agfood.ie portal. The application window opens on 20 March 2025 and closes on 15 May 2025. Late applications will be accepted up to 9 June 2025, although these will incur a penalty[2][3].

Impact and Expectations

The return of the dairy beef weighing scheme is welcomed by farmers following a successful 2023 iteration. In 2023, over 8,400 farmers participated, with funding worth €5.3 million supporting approximately 265,000 calves. For 2025, the scheme aims to cover about 200,000 head, providing crucial support to farmers across Ireland[3].

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster the Irish beef sector, which includes support for suckler farming. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong suckler beef industry alongside the development of the dairy-beef sector[1].

Conclusion

The €4 million dairy beef weighing measure represents a significant investment in Ireland's agricultural sector, particularly in enhancing the efficiency and integration of dairy and beef farming. By offering a direct payment of €20 per eligible calf, the scheme not only supports farmers financially but also encourages better data collection for improved herd management and sector resilience.

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