There will be sanctions for participants of the National Beef Welfare Scheme for those who do not comply with the measure’s terms and conditions.
The scheme has two mandatory actions:
- 1 – IBR testing;
- 2 – Meal feeding.
If IBR testing is not undertaken or where insufficient samples are obtained, this will result in no payment for this action and a 10% penalty of the overall payment that a participant would have received had they complied with both actions.
Scheme payment by DAFM will only issue after verification that the requisite number of samples have been submitted to an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory for testing of bovine serum by ELISA for IBR gE antibodies by 17.30hrs on 1 November 2023.
This is the last date by which the laboratories will be able to provide data to ICBF for verification purposes for the DAFM to make payments on, according to the DAFM.
Meanwhile, if no meal feeding is undertaken and/or receipts are not provided when requested by the DAFM, within the timeframe stated, it will not issue a payment for this action and it will also apply a 10% penalty of an overall payment that a participant would have received had both actions been complied with.
Participants must record the date of weaning of each animal that is being submitted for payment under this action.
Where groups of calves are weaned on different dates, record the different weaning dates for each group.
Where both actions are not carried out or not conducted to the required standard, the DAFM will issue no payment.
The DAFM will calculate penalties under the scheme based on non-compliance.
Examples
In the scheme’s terms and conditions, the DAFM has provided application of penalties examples.
Herdowner A has 40 beef bovines, 20 of which are calves and 20 are suckler cows. 20 calves are selected for meal feeding. The herdowner does not carry out any IBR so has not complied with action 1 (mandatory action).
The following penalties will apply:
- IBR Payment Herdowner would have received had action 1 been complied with based on 16 – 20 animals tested – €300;
- Meal feeding payment (€35 x 20 calves) – €700;
- Total payment if both action 1 and 2 fully complied with – €1,000
- Less 10% of payment herdowner would have received if fully compliant with both action 1 and action 2 (10% of €1,000) – (€100)
- Less payment for IBR (as action 1 not complied with) – (€300);
- Net payment to herdowner after application of penalties €600.
Herdowner B has 40 beef bovines, 20 of which are calves and 20 are suckler cows.
20 calves are selected for meal feeding. Herdowner does not carry out any meal feeding and/or has not provided receipts when requested within the stated timeframe, so has not complied with action 2 (mandatory action).
The following penalties will apply:
- IBR Payment based on 16 – 20 animals tested – €300;
- Meal Feeding Payment (€35 x 20 calves) herdowner would have received if action 2 was fully complied with – €700;
- Total payment if both action 1 and 2 fully complied with – €1,000;
- Less 10% of payment herdowner would have received if fully compliant with both action 1 and 2 (10% of €1,000) – (€100);
- Less payment for meal feeding (as action 2 not complied with) – (€700);
- Net payment to herdowner after application of penalties – €200.
See previous articles on www.thatsfarming.com:
