The ICMSA has welcomed a "constructive engagement" from the Department of Agriculture on the proposal for a dairy beef calf scheme following a meeting with senior officials.

ICMSA livestock committee chair Des Morrison asked the Department to give consideration to the issue in the context of the 2021 Budget estimates and the CAP post-2020 negotiations.

Morrison said that in the context of the growth of the dairy herd, dairy beef is already the majority part of Irish beef production and that trend is likely to become even more pronounced.

Wide benefits

The ICMSA has said it is hugely important that dairy and beef farming becomes better integrated for the benefit of both sectors.

Morrison continued: “This dairy beef calf scheme is exactly the kind of win-win situation that needs to be developed and supported.

“We are satisfied that we have made the case for a scheme that benefits everyone, participated [in the talks] and solved some problems along the way.”

The main elements of ICMSA’s proposed dairy beef calf scheme include:

  • Scheme is open to all farmers, both beef and dairy.
  • Farmers who apply to the scheme must rear calves from the dairy herd.
  • Male and female calves with a beef sire and dairy dam are eligible for the scheme.
  • Calves must be less than six weeks of age at time of purchase.
  • An initial payment of €75 can be drawn down by the farmer once the animal is weighed between six and 10 months.

  • The second payment of €75 is drawn down after the animal is slaughtered.
  • Farmers can only avail of the scheme on a maximum of 100 calves per year.

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