Mayo farmers urged to apply for new dairy beef scheme
FARMERS in Mayo are being urged to apply for a new support measure for those producing calves destined for beef production.
Deputy Alan Dillon said the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (DBWS) has a budget of €25 million over four years and is co-funded by the EU as part of the CAP Strategic Plan. It comes as part of the implementation of the recently published 10-point action plan to support the development of a dairy-beef sector in Ireland.
Announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, the DBWS is a breeding measure which supports farmers using genotyped and genetically superior beef sires for breeding dairy beef calves.
Participants will be required to use AI straws or stock bulls with a minimum rating of 3 stars on the ICBF Dairy Beef Index (DBI) and on the beef sub-index of the DBI. Farmers who satisfy the scheme requirements will receive a payment of €20 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 50 calves per holding.
The objective of the DBWS is to incentivise the use of genetic tools to improve the beef merit of progeny from dairy herds. Breeding with high DBI index sires has established progeny performance benefits as measured by their Commercial Beef Value (CBV). The scheme supports the use of the DBI to produce calves with a higher CBVs.
Said Deputy Dillon: “Both dairy and beef farmers recognise the gains to be made from the greater integration of the beef and dairy herds that this scheme supports. There are advantages for both buyers and sellers in a scheme that provides a market outlet for dairy beef calves and an alternative business option for beef farmers. Closer integration will undoubtedly improve the quality, welfare and viability of male calves from dairy herds.”
Under the plan announced on March 8, ICBF and ICOS will ensure that the benefits of sourcing calves based on the CBV index are clearly communicated to farmers purchasing those calves.
Applications for the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme can be lodged through agfood.ie until the closing date of May 15.