Dual purpose breeds to be eligible for beef scheme payments
NFU Scotland’s lobbying efforts to allow dual purpose breeds, such as fleckvieh, to be eligible for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme, have come to fruition.
In previous years, some dual-purpose breeds were eligible for payment, however, in 2015 the new scheme omitted these animals making them ineligible to receive support. However, following extensive efforts from NFU Scotland, this has now been reversed. This means that farmers can now claim on 2016-born dual-purpose bred calves.
Those claiming dual-purpose cattle breeds will need to provide additional evidence to prove they are in a beef production system. These claims will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
NFU Scotland’s Livestock Policy Manager John Sleigh commented: “We have fought hard over the last year to create a level playing field for fleckvieh beef cattle farmers.
“By challenging the Scottish Government on this, it has now been confirmed that all dual-purpose breeds such as fleckvieh cattle being used in beef systems in Scotland will receive payments under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme.
“Whilst this is not an issue that affects thousands of farmers, for those it does, it offers vital support to their business. Across Scotland we have around 1,500 pure or cross fleckvieh calves born each year, some of which will be sired with a dairy bull rendering them ineligible, therefore this change is unlikely to be a massive drain on the entire pot.
“We have some farmers who are running over 100 fleckvieh cows in a suckler system and missing out on thousands of pounds of support - this is nearly impossible to absorb.
“Our efforts prove that lobbying hard to create fairness for farmers does pay off.” Ends
Notes to Editors
Contact Ruth McClean on 0131 472 4108.