From 1 January 2026, a new age limit applies in the Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme in Northern Ireland (NI).

The scheme, which was introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in 2024, is designed to encourage farmers to slaughter cattle at younger ages. It initially came with a maximum age limit of 30 months.

In 2025, this limit was cut to 28 months and from January 2026, it reduces to 27 months. From 2027 and beyond, the age limit is 26 months.

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Slaughter date

To stay within the new limit applying in 2026, an animal must be slaughtered on or before the day it turns 27 months old.

If a steer was born on 1 March 2024, it will need to be slaughtered on or before 1 June 2026 to be eligible.

By the same token, any animal born before 1 October 2023 cannot receive the payment if it is killed in 2026.

The rate of payment remains the same as in previous years at £75 per head.

The same age limit applies to steers, heifers and young bulls born and reared in NI. The payment goes to the person who retains the animal for at least 60 days (continuously) within the last 100 days pre-slaughter.

There is no upper limit to the numbers of cattle that can be claimed. The 2025 payment is expected to be made in March 2026.