Beef welfare scheme applications open for 2026
The 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme is now accepting applications from eligible suckler farmers, with new options to enhance calf health. The programme, led by Minister Martin Heydon, offers financial incentives tied to key welfare practices across Ireland.
Source:
Teagasc Agricultural News
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⏱️ 1 min read
Applications have opened for the 2026 National Beef Welfare Scheme, inviting eligible suckler farmers to participate in a programme designed to enhance calf welfare and performance. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, confirmed the scheme’s continuation with a new vaccination option against the bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), reflecting current disease challenges.
Farmers will receive €35 per calf for mandatory meal feeding at weaning, with payments covering up to 45 calves. Optional actions include vaccination, which offers up to €15 per calf, and faecal or forage testing, rewarding participants with €25 per calf. These measures aim to support animal health during critical growth stages and provide financial support for improved practices.
Applicants must ensure they keep all relevant documentation, including receipts for meal feeding and any selected optional activities, and maintain accurate records for potential audits by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Eligible calves must be born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026. Applications are submitted online via the MyAgFood portal by 5pm on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, with no late entries accepted. Farmers are advised to contact their local Teagasc office to arrange application assistance. More information is available on the Department’s official website.
Farmers will receive €35 per calf for mandatory meal feeding at weaning, with payments covering up to 45 calves. Optional actions include vaccination, which offers up to €15 per calf, and faecal or forage testing, rewarding participants with €25 per calf. These measures aim to support animal health during critical growth stages and provide financial support for improved practices.
Applicants must ensure they keep all relevant documentation, including receipts for meal feeding and any selected optional activities, and maintain accurate records for potential audits by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Eligible calves must be born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026. Applications are submitted online via the MyAgFood portal by 5pm on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, with no late entries accepted. Farmers are advised to contact their local Teagasc office to arrange application assistance. More information is available on the Department’s official website.
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