Suckler farmers across County Roscommon are being encouraged to apply for the 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme, with applications now being invited under the €28 million programme.
The scheme, announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, provides payments of up to €75 per eligible calf where farmers complete all of the required and optional actions.
Payments can be claimed on a maximum of 45 calves, giving participating farmers the potential to receive up to €3,375.
Eligible calves must have been born on the applicant’s holding between July 1st, 2025 and June 30th, 2026. The main element of the scheme is a mandatory meal-feeding action aimed at supporting animal welfare and performance around the weaning period. Farmers who complete this requirement will receive €35 per eligible calf.
Two further actions are optional. Farmers who undertake the vaccination action can receive up to €15 per calf, while a further €25 per calf is available for completing either faecal testing or forage testing.
A new addition for 2026 allows farmers participating in the vaccination measure to vaccinate eligible animals against bluetongue virus serotype 3, or BTV-3, which is currently circulating.
Teagasc has reminded farmers taking part in the scheme of the importance of retaining the relevant documentation. Receipts for meal purchased for the mandatory feeding measure should be kept, along with receipts relating to vaccinations and testing where the optional measures are selected.
Farmers must also maintain the required records and make them available to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine if requested.
The scheme follows a high level of participation in 2025. More than €28 million in payments began issuing last December to 24,214 farmers, covering almost 451,000 calves nationally.
The Beef Welfare Scheme is aimed at improving animal health and husbandry on suckler farms while also supporting the economic efficiency of the sector.
Applications for the 2026 scheme must be submitted online through the MyAgFood portal by 5pm on Wednesday, September 23rd. There will be no provision for late applications, with the closing date intended to allow sufficient time for applications to be validated and payments processed before the end of the year. Farmers who require assistance with their application can also contact their local Teagasc office.
