The Department of Agriculture’s information meetings roadshow on the new Sheep Welfare Scheme is attracting large attendances and lots of interaction. There are some interesting questions being raised that are helpful in addressing concerns some farmers may have about joining the scheme.

With the Department’s help, we will continue to publish frequently asked questions in print and online at http://ifj.ie/Sheepwelfare.

There are also further information meetings taking place over the coming weeks, with the number of meetings previously publicised increased by the addition of three meetings being held by the IFA, as detailed in the agri-events calendar.

Eligibility

Q. The number of ewes entered on my sheep census for 2014 and 2015 was 100 ewes each year. I keep to this number to suit facilities but drop below it at certain times during the year. For example, I might have three or four ewes scanned dry which I sell, plus I generally have 10 to 15 cull ewes for selling in June. Will this affect my payment and, if so, do I need to notify the Department?

A. Payment in the scheme is based on keeping the reference number of animals for the full year. If you retain your own ewe lambs, then these will satisfy to replace any shortfall in ewe numbers once they reach 12 months of age.

If you are in a system of purchasing your replacements in autumn breeding sales and have a shortfall in numbers during the year, then you are obliged to replace (with a ewe or ewe hogget) any shortfall or notify the Department of Agriculture Sheep Welfare Scheme section of lower numbers. Your payment will be reduced to the lower number for that year’s payment.

Q. Do ewe hoggets over 12 months of age need to be in-lamb to be used in the calculation?

A. No, dry ewe hoggets or pregnant ewe hoggets will suffice.

Q. I am a young farmer who entered farming in 2015. I had 50 ewes in 2014, 80 in 2015 and have 130 in 2016. Is there any scope to increase my reference number by using 2015 and 2016 census numbers?

A. You do not satisfy the definition of a new entrant young farmer as per the terms and conditions of the scheme but if you feel you have a case, you can write into the Sheep Welfare Scheme section in Portlaoise. Every case will be assessed on its own merits and it is important to supply as much information as possible.

Q. I have been in a dry hogget system due to off-farm work commitments for the last two years but have ewes lambing down again in 2017. Will I be able to join the scheme?

A. Again, under the terms and conditions you are not eligible as you did not have ewes in 2014 or 2015 and are not a new entrant. Like the last question, you can write in and state your case to the sheep welfare section, who will assess your case.

Q. If a farmer only had ewes in 2015 will that be taken as his reference number or will it be halved to take account of no ewes being farmed in 2014?

A. 2015 will be used as the reference number provided the farmer is a new entrant.

Q. I am a new entrant so have not received an application. Where can I get one?

A. There will be application forms available from Department of Agriculture staff at the information evenings. If you cannot make any meeting you can request one by contacting the sheep section at The Sheep Welfare Scheme Section, DAFM, Government Offices, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, by calling 076-106 4420 or by emailing sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie.

Q. I am a new entrant to farming in 2017 and will only be purchasing ewes this spring. Do I apply for the scheme before the closing date on 31 January 2017 or will it be open to new entrants in 2018 again? I will not have a sheep census completed in 2017 as I had no sheep in 2016. Will this affect my application?

A. The Sheep Welfare Scheme will be open to new entrants for each scheme year, so yes you can join the scheme as a new entrant in 2018. The sheep census you return in 2017 will determine your reference number.

Q. My parents are in the process of getting the farm transferred to me and we are hoping this will be done by the 2017 BPS closing date. Can participation in the scheme also be transferred to me?

A. Again, the Sheep Welfare Scheme application form should be submitted but as there is no transfer policy set out, all of these cases will be assessed by the Sheep Welfare Scheme section in Portlaoise.

Questions relating to measures

Q. When does the scheme start or what is the year of operation? If I scanned in January 2017, will that satisfy the requirement for scanning for year one?

A. The scheme year runs from 1 February to 31 January. Scanning before this in 2017 will not count in year one. In your instance, scanning in January 2018 will satisfy your requirement for year one.

Q. Will this affect the date I get my payment as I will not have all measures complete until next January?

A. It is likely that there will be an advance payment in November followed by full payment once all measures are satisfied.

Q. I scan every year but it is not practical for my scanner to record the litter size of 300 ewes as he is scanning. I will have a receipt for the scan and I count the ewes and separate according to litter size after scanning. Will my count suffice?

A. Yes, your count will suffice. Write down the results in your flock-recording booklet at the time of scanning.

Q. Do I need to feed concentrates to singles pre-lambing. I generally don’t as I have good quality silage?

A. Sheep must be managed in a manner that is deemed best in reducing lamb mortality. Single-bearing ewes that are in a sufficiently good condition may not require additional supplementation prior to lambing.

Q. What is deemed post-mating – the day after the ram is introduced to ewes or when the ram is removed from ewes?

A. For the purpose of the scheme, post-mating is deemed as when mating begins. This is because some farmers remove the ram after four weeks, others six, while some leave him there until scanning.

Q. If you select mineral supplementation post-mating and dose, how early do you need to give the first dose after mating? I don’t like to interrupt ewes until at least 30 days after I let the ram in for fear that additional stress may affect pregnancy rates.

A. The scheme does not want to interfere with normal farming practice that is working for you.

Manufacturers’ guidelines of products will be generally used to determine the suitability of the programme implemented. You must ensure that whatever supplement you use provides mineral supplementation for a period which includes at least 60 days post-mating.

Q. I administer boluses to ewes that claim year-long treatment pre-lambing. Will this suffice or do I need to administer any treatment after breeding?

A. If the manufacturers’ guidelines state this claim and the product is licensed for use in Ireland, then there will be no problem.

Q. Many hill farmers treat lambs with a bolus at five to six weeks of age when shearing. Boluses, (according to manufacturers’ guidelines) have a lifetime of a few months – will this satisfy for the measure of pre-weaning mineral supplementation.

A. Yes, same as explained in the last answer.

The Department of Agriculture is advising farmers to get their applications submitted as soon as possible.

Where an applicant wishes to appeal their reference number, this can be done at a later stage with no deadline for appeals on a farmer’s reference number.

Each case is being assessed on its own merit and the Department is advising farmers to submit any relevant documentation, which farmers feel will improve their chances of a higher reference number.

Department officials at the information meetings are also advising farmers not to forget to submit their sheep census returns, either by returning the hardcopy application or online through agfood.ie. This is a vital component of the scheme and is also central to other schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraint and GLAS, for example. The closing date for both schemes is 31 January 2017.