A new sheep welfare scheme paying flock owners €10/ewe has been drawn up and submitted to Brussels for approval. It will start in 2017 and run for four years to 2020 as a part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP).

It will pay farmers to apply enhanced health and welfare steps covering lameness, parasite control, flystrike, scanning, supplementation and selection of rams. It will improve sheep welfare and reduce lambing difficulties and mortality.

Details were revealed by the Department of Agriculture at Wednesday’s meeting of the RDP Implementation Committee and agreed. The scheme has now gone to Brussels as the key part of Ireland’s second annual amendment to the RDP.

IFA sheep chair John Lynskey said the scheme was a very positive development. “It is critical that Minister Michael Creed and his Department now take on board the views of farmers on operational details and keep the requirements simple with minimal costs.”

IFA hill committee chair Pat Dunne said the scheme will take into account that hill farmers will have to adjust ewe numbers under GLAS commonage plans.