IFA welcome announcement of new €80 suckler cow scheme
IRELAND - IFA President Padraig Walshe today welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan T.D. on the introduction of an €80 payment per cow under the new Suckler Cow Herd Welfare and Quality scheme.
7 November 2006
2 minute read
He described it as “a major strategic investment for Irish livestock farmers, designed to secure Ireland’s position in premium European consumer beef markets.” Padraig Walshe said when IFA first proposed a new Suckler Herd scheme last January, Minister Coughlan responded very positively.
He said, “the Minister has now delivered with this announcement of an €80 per cow payment under the new scheme. This involves a major investment of €250m for the beef sector under the new Partnership Agreement.” The IFA President said the New Suckler Cow Herd Welfare and Quality scheme would make a very positive impact at farm level in maintaining the national suckler cow herd and Ireland’s ability to service high quality and high priced consumer beef markets across Europe.
The IFA National Livestock Chairman John Bryan also welcomed Minister Coughlan’s positive announcement for the beef and livestock sector. He said “participation in the scheme will be voluntary and open to all suckler farmers.
The €80 per cow payment will be made to producers who comply with six measures covering animal events recording, disbudding of calves, castration of calves, minimum calving age, weaning best practice and training.” John Bryan said the payment rate totalling €80 per cow is broken down as follows: animal events recording €12/cow (€14 per cow where electronic recording is used). Disbudding, castration and weaning €49/cow. Record keeping, minimum calving age and transaction costs of €19/cow. There is an overall payment limit of 100 suckler cows in each herd.
Source: .ifa.ie
