Payments worth over €750,000 have commenced to farmers in Cork through the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme 2025, which is a clear example of how to strengthen the link between the dairy and beef sectors, Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has said.
Deputy O’Shea said: “This funding announcement underlines Fine Gael’s commitment to backing beef and dairy farmers in Cork with practical schemes delivering real value for families.
“Farmers are responding positively because these measures make a tangible difference to herd management and farm incomes.”
In total, over €4.09 million has commenced issuing to some 8,153 participating farmers and supporting 204,739 calves.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon commented: “I am delighted to confirm that payments have now commenced under the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme, building on the range of support schemes available for beef farmers.
“The National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme helps to support decision making on farms through better quality data on herd performance and to increase the economic and environmental efficiency of the beef from the dairy herd, and to facilitate further the integration of the dairy and beef sectors by providing support for farmers who are rearing progeny from the dairy herd.”
The Minister continued: “The core action for the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme was the weighing of eligible calves by 01 November 2025 for which there was a payment of €20 per eligible calf. Like the National Beef Welfare Scheme and the National Sheep Welfare Scheme, the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme was also oversubscribed.
“This is testament to the practical measures within these schemes, where farmers see value in the actions including the weighing of calves. Within the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme, over 305,000 calves were weighed by 01 November across 8,381 herds with 26% of these herds weighing more than 50 calves. This is testament to the real value farmers see in having this weighing data for calves.”
As a result of the oversubscription of the scheme in the order of €1.4 million, the maximum number payable under the scheme has been reduced to 31 calves.
The Minister concluded by stating: “I am acutely aware of the importance of payments under these schemes for the beef sector and the processing of such payments at the earliest possible opportunity remains a key priority for my department. I am also happy to confirm that I have secured an allocation of a further €4 million for this scheme in 2026.”
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