Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme 2026
The National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme 2026 supports dairy-beef integration by paying farmers to weigh eligible calves from the dairy herd and submit the weights to ICBF, improving herd performance data and the economic and environmental efficiency of beef from the dairy herd. Payment is €20 per eligible calf, for a minimum of 5 up to a maximum of 50 calves per applicant.
- Grant range
- €20 per calf up to €1,000
- Funding level
- 100%
- Support type
- Grant
- Last checked
- 3 Sept 2026
About this scheme
The National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme 2026 aims to support better farm decision-making through improved herd performance data, and to increase the economic and environmental efficiency of beef produced from the dairy herd, by encouraging farmers to weigh and record data on dairy-beef calves. To qualify, an applicant must be 18 or over, hold an active herd number with Herd Owner status, have a valid 2026 BISS application, and have male dairy-breed calves and/or beef-sired calves out of dairy dams in their herd, born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026. The only action required is weighing eligible calves (at least 12 weeks old) and submitting the weights to the ICBF within 7 days of weighing, no later than 17:30hrs on 1 November 2026. Payment is €20 per eligible calf, for 5 to 50 calves per applicant. Applications run via MyAgFood between 14 April and 15 May 2026, with payments 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 owner of an active herd number with Herd Owner status (Herd Keeper status is not acceptable)
- Must be farming a holding for which a valid Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application is submitted in 2026
- Must have had a male calf of a dairy breed, and/or a male or female calf of a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam, in their herd
- Eligible calves must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of weighing, registered on the holding being weighed on for a minimum of 10 days prior to weighing, and in the applicant's herd for at least 10 days before weighing
- Eligible calves must have been born between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026
How to apply
- Confirm eligible calves meet the age, herd-registration, and birth-date requirements (born 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026, at least 12 weeks old and in the herd 10+ days before weighing).
- Weigh a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 50 eligible calves.
- Submit the weights to the ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation) within 7 days of weighing, and no later than 17:30hrs on 1 November 2026.
- Apply via MyAgFood between the opening date (14 April 2026) and closing date (15 May 2026).
- Receive payment in December 2026, provided all actions have been completed in full and weights submitted on time.