This article is from page 38 of the 2007-10-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
CLARE suckler farmers are to re- ceive €80 per cow thanks to last week’s approval by the EU of the new fully Exchequer-funded suckler welfare scheme.
The suckler herd is the source of much of Ireland’s high-quality beef, which is so important to the rural economy and comprises 65,000 herds with over one million cows.
The minister for agriculture be- lieves that increased welfare stand- ards will add to the high quality rep- utation of Ireland’s beef sector. “This
is an important initiative aimed at improving welfare and quality in the national suckler herd.
‘Participation in the scheme is vol- untary and will be open to all suckler farmers, including those with mixed enterprise herds containing both suckler and dairy animals,” said Minister Mary Coughlan.
The delivery of the scheme was signalled as a key element of the Agri-Vision 2015 Action Plan which identified the beef sector as a vital area for development.
The new plan was welcomed by Clare TD Timmy Dooley. “Mainis-
ter Mary Coughlan has informed me that the EU has just approved a new fully Exchequer-funded suckler welfare scheme,” he said.
‘Participation in the scheme is vol- untary and will be open to all suckler farmers, including those with mixed enterprise herds containing both suckler and dairy animals.
“A payment of €80 per cow up to a limit of 100 cows will be available to suckler cow farmers who comply with six animal welfare measures in relation to calves born from January eles
The department will shortly write
to all potentially eligible farmers with details of the main aspects of the scheme. Application forms, help- sheets and the terms & conditions will be issued soon while farmers who apply under the scheme will be issued with the Animal Events Book, which will be used to notify the reg- istration of calves, as well as certain events relating to breeding.
The scheme will operate for five years, while the closing date for ap- plications is March 31, 2008. A Lo- call number has been created by the department at 1890 252707 and will operate from Tuesday, October 30.