Beef Welfare Scheme 2026

About this scheme

The Beef Welfare Scheme 2026 is aimed at suckler farmers and is designed to increase economic efficiency and improve animal health and husbandry, paying up to €75 per eligible calf across its three actions, for up to 45 calves (a maximum of €3,375 per herd). Participants must carry out a mandatory Meal Feeding action and may opt into a Vaccination action and/or a Faecal/Forage Testing action, with the exact payment depending on which actions are completed. To qualify, an applicant must be 18 or over, hold an active herd number with Herd Owner Status, have submitted a 2026 BISS application for the holding, be a suckler beef farmer with eligible calves born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, and meet the scheme's 'Active Farmer' definition. Applications are made online via myagfood.ie, with a closing date of 17:00hrs on 23 September 2026, and payments to cleared cases commencing in December 2026.

Who can apply

• Applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date the application for participation is submitted
• Must be the holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner Status (Herd Keeper status is not acceptable)
• Must be farming a holding for which a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application is submitted in 2026
• Must be a suckler beef farmer, i.e. have eligible calves born to eligible suckler cows between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026
• Must be an 'Active Farmer' as defined in the scheme Terms and Conditions
• Mandatory Meal Feeding action (introducing meal feeding for 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post-weaning): up to €35 per eligible calf, capped at 45 calves
• Optional Vaccination action (against clostridial diseases, calf pneumonia and/or Bluetongue, with details recorded): up to €15 per eligible calf, capped at 45 calves
• Optional Faecal/Forage Testing action (two faecal tests at least four weeks apart, or three forage samples, submitted for testing): up to €25 per eligible calf, capped at 45 calves

How to apply

1. 1At application stage, select which actions you will undertake: Action 1 (Meal Feeding) is mandatory; Action 2 (Vaccination) and Action 3 (Faecal Testing/Forage Testing) are optional.
2. 2Apply online via www.myagfood.ie before the closing date of 17:00hrs on 23 September 2026.
3. 3Carry out Action 1: introduce meal feeding for 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post-weaning for each eligible calf.
4. 4If selected, carry out Action 2 (implement and record a vaccination programme against clostridial diseases, calf pneumonia and/or Bluetongue) and/or Action 3 (two faecal tests at least 4 weeks apart, or three forage samples, submitted for testing).
5. 5Read the full Terms and Conditions for complete requirements; payments to cleared cases commence in December 2026.