The proposed Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 is essentially an extension of the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS) and aims to build on progress made in animal health and welfare under SWS in the 2014-2020 Rural Development Plan.

Ireland’s SWOT analysis of possible measures for the next CAP identified a number of animal welfare issues which prevail and, as such, a needs assessment highlighted the need to continue to improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector.

In particular, the SIS is focused on contributing to improved welfare through targeted interventions in lameness control, parasite control, flystrike and appropriate supplementation.

Proposed structure

Participating farmers will choose to undertake two actions altogether - one action from a list of category A options and one action from a list of category B options. The actions available are also split as per their suitability to lowland or hill flocks.

All farmers must also complete a genotyped ram action once during the intervention period, with flocks with in excess of 150 ewes required to complete it twice, along with additional measures as will be described in greater detail below.

There are no further details available on this requirement, but it is likely that farmers will be required to purchase a ram which has been genotyped.

The following is the list of actions that can be taken:

  • Lowland flock category A: lameness control or mineral supplementation of ewes post-mating or parasite control (faecal egg reduction test).
  • Lowland flock category B: genotyped ram or scanning and recording of results or flystrike control.
  • Hill flock category A: mineral supplementation of ewes post-mating or meal feeding lambs post-weaning or parasite control (faecal egg reduction test).
  • Hill flock category B: genotyped ram or scanning and recording of results or mineral supplementation of lambs pre-weaning.
  • Specific requirements

    The document states that hill flocks may not choose both mineral supplementation pre-weaning and meal feeding of lambs post-weaning.

    As mentioned above, all farmers must complete the genotyped ram action once during the intervention period.

    Farmers with a flock size of greater than 150 breeding ewes must complete this action twice over the course of the scheme.

    In all other years, an alternative action from category B must be competed. In the first year of application, all farmers must indicate the year(s) in which they will perform the genotype ram action.

    Payment rates

    There are no exact details as to the potential payment per farm or the amount of funds allocated via Pillar II to the scheme.

    The document outlines that the calculations for this scheme are based on costs incurred minus the net economic benefit associated with the actions.

    A transaction cost of 20% of the total cost per ewe is included in the calculations.

    As has been the case in the SWS, the number of ewes on which the payment will be based will be calculated from historic flock levels and this will also count for the upper payment limit.

    Proposed eligibility and selection criteria

    A significant change from the SWS is that all participants are required to be a member of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme. The other eligibility or selection criteria are outlined below.

  • All applicants must have a flock number, breeding ewes on their holding for the duration of each scheme year and declared breeding ewes on their 2022 sheep census return.
  • The maximum number of ewes eligible for payment will be the average of the number of ewes in a specified historic reference period. Payment in a given year will be based on the lower of this maximum reference number or the latest sheep census figures returned.
  • Applicants will be required to submit a completed sheep census return by the specified date for each year of participation in the Sheep Improvement Scheme.