Any sheep farmer planning on making investments in sheep handling equipment in the next year should consider using the Targeted, Agricultural, Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II.

The grant aid is quite attractive as qualifying young trained farmers can receive up to 60% grant aid towards the cost of handling equipment while general applicants can receive 40% grant aid.

The scheme should to be open for applications throughout 2020 in a series of three-month tranches. The current tranche is due to close for applications on 10 January 2020 with the next tranche opening immediately after.

2020 will be the final year for applications to TAMS II unless it is extended in the future. In this article, we have listed the sheep handling investment items covered in the scheme, the Department’s reference cost of the items and some of the Department specifications for these investments that ensures they are suitable for grant aid.

Remember, farmers looking for grant aid towards their sheep handling investments must make an application to the Department of Agriculture for pre-clearance.

Fixed handling units are covered in TAMS II and fixed units must comply with the Departments specifications S136.

All TAMS II applications have to be made online through Agfood.ie and there is a minimum investment requirement of €2,000 per application. Once approved, an investment can be made and paid for. A separate online application has to be made then for payment of grant aid.

Fixed sheep handling unit

  • Reference cost: €73.20/m2.

    • This rate is to be used for the entire area of fixed handling units that do not include a dip tank. The rate is per-metre square and includes all penning and concrete. The unit must be constructed in accordance with the Department specification S136.

    Fixed sheep handling unit with dip tank

    Good sheep fencing is critical to managing a flock of sheep efficiently on the farm.

  • Reference cost: €99.50/m2

    • This rate is to be used for the entire area of fixed handling units that include a dip tank. The rate is per-metre square and includes all penning, concrete and the dip tank. The unit must be constructed in accordance with the Department specification S136.

    Mobile sheep handling units are covered in the scheme. They are a great help to farmers with fragmented holdings.

    Portable sheep handling race with wheels

  • Reference cost: €3,186.54/item

    • The cost is per unit, excluding penning. The portable sheep handling race with wheels, either with or without a footbath, will consist of a handling race that is permanently fixed together and mounted on wheels that may be detachable.

    The handling race may have a guillotine gate at the rear and drafting gate at the front, non-return gates and a footbath along the length of the race which can be covered over when not in use.

    The handling race is the section between the front gate and rear gate and may include two pen sections to act as a funnel to direct the sheep into the race. The race must be a minimum of 2.4m long, when in operation. The unit must be fitted with lights and relevant plating for road transport.

    For grant-aid purposes mobile penning is considered as a separate investment to a handling race.

    Portable basic sheep handling race

  • Reference cost: €881.96/item

    • A basic mobile handling race will consist of a front gate, back gate and sides held together by pins. The handling race can be dismantled for transport. Mobile penning sections are then used to create collection areas at the front and rear of the handling race.

    The handling race is the section between the front gate and rear gate and may include two pen sections to act as a funnel to direct the sheep into the race. The race must be a minimum of 2.4m long, when in operation.

    For grant-aid purposes, mobile penning is considered as a separate investment to a handling race.

    Sheep weighing scales

  • Reference cost: €845.92/item

    • These can be grant-aided for either fixed or mobile units. Weighing scales may be either manual or digital. They must be designed to hold the sheep on the weighing platform without the need for additional restraint. The weighing facilities may be included along with the race, rollover crate or may be separate. A weighing scales must include either a manual or digital display.

    Note: for grant-aid purposes, weighing facilities and rollover crates are considered as separate investments to a handling unit and must be applied for separately.

    Sheep rollover crate

  • Reference cost: €847.92/item

    • These can be grant-aided for either fixed or mobile units.

    A rollover crate is a system that catches a sheep and enables the sheep to be rolled over for undertaking necessary treatments. The rollover crate may be included along with the race or may be separate.

    For grant-aid purposes, weighing facilities and rollover crates are considered as separate investments to a handling unit and must be applied for separately.

    Mobile sheep ‘batch’ footbath

  • Reference cost: €654.02/item

    • A “batch” footbath is a footbath that is separate from a handling unit and can hold around eight to 16 sheep at a time. The footbath is surrounded by penning to retain the sheep in the footbath.

    Sheep adoption unit front with penning

  • Reference cost: €224.08/item

    • A sheep adoption unit is covered in TAMS II.

    Mobile adoption unit front with penning is a unit designed to restrain ewes for one to two days while adopting/fostering lambs with integral penning to keep the lambs close to the ewe. The units must be designed to allow the ewe to stand and lie and must be for the greater good of the fostered lambs and must not cause any unnecessary distress to the ewe. The ewe must have access to both fresh water and feed at all times while restrained in the unit. The units must have a minimum of 3.5m of penning, this 3.5m excludes the adoption unit front.

    Sheep adoption unit front

  • Reference cost: €111.05/item

    • A mobile adoption unit front is a unit as described above for use with existing penning arrangements.

    Mobile sheep penning

  • Reference cost: €27.93/linear m (75 linear metres maximum)

    • Mobile penning must be at least 850mm high, but it is strongly recommended to be 970mm high, and must have a minimum of six rails.

    Each penning section must have a system to be connected to other penning sections.

    A maximum of 75 linear metres of penning is eligible for grant-aid. Included here is a forcing gate.

    PDA EID tag reader and software package

  • Reference cost: €1,820/item

    • This is an electronic system that reads the tag numbers of the sheep and additional information (such as weight, sex, number of lambs, veterinary treatments, management information, etc) can be recorded on the system “in the field”.

    The PDA EID tag reader will include a full keyboard (all letters shown at the same time on separate keys, either on screen or as a physical keyboard) on the reader. It will include a full management package for recording all information about the sheep which can be uploaded to a computer or viewed on the PDA itself.

    EID tag reader and software

  • Reference cost: €710/item is based on unit cost

    • This is an electronic system that reads the tag numbers of the sheep, and has software to enable the numbers to be transferred to a computer. These systems may also be able to record some additional information.