SIS and SWS payment numbers: There is some confusion regarding payments and ewe retention requirements in the recently launched National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) and the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS).
Under the NSWS the number of breeding ewes entered in to the scheme or what is known as the payable number needs to be present on farm for completion of actions.
Once this is satisfied the number can be reduced at other times of the year. In contrast, in the SIS the reference number of breeding ewes needs to maintained across the 12-month calendar year. The reference number farmers must maintain in 2026 will be influenced by the number recorded on the 2025 national sheep and goat census.
If the number of breeding ewes returned on the 2025 sheep census, (or in the case of an inspection report or administrative control report) is lower than the scheme payment reference number, then the new lower number will become the scheme payment reference number for 2026.
Farmers can also opt to reduce the reference number if it falls by contacting the Department in writing at sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie or Sheep Improvement Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, R32 RPA6.
NSWS application process: The online application process for the sheep welfare scheme is pretty straightforward. Log in to MyAgfood.ie or Agfood.ie. Click in to the NSWS – this will bring you through to the scheme home page. Select the scheme again from the drop-down ensuring to select the 2026 scheme year. Select this again in the ‘select application type’ drop-down and then press the button “create claim”.
This will present you with your payable number based on the average of the last three sheep census returns. If the 2025 sheep census has a higher number of ewes you can opt to select this figure and if so you must enter it in the box “updated payable number”. Then select two mandatory category A actions – this will then allow you to select an optional category B action.
Select the completion date and then tick the boxes to state that you comply with the scheme terms and conditions. Do not forget to click submit after this step.
Nematodirus risk: The 2025 nematodirus forecast was released in the first week of April in 2025 and highlighted peak hatching across the country with hatching in certain areas a week earlier.
The onset of clinical symptoms is typically from two weeks after peak hatching in lambs aged six to 12 weeks of age. It is probable that this year’s forecast will paint a similar picture when released but if there is no sign of it in the coming week farmers should be mindful to keep an eye out for symptoms such as lambs with a green scour, performing poorly etc.
In some cases lambs could be more exposed to the threat of nematodirus in 2026 if ewes are under greater nutritional stress and lambs are forced to graze more as a result.
Treatment with a white drench (benzimidazoles) is the recommended approach.
The disease should not be confused with coccidiosis which has a characteristic grey/black or blood-stained colour. This is also a big threat this spring given challenging ground conditions and prolonged feeding. The two disease can also be present together.
SIS and SWS payment numbers: There is some confusion regarding payments and ewe retention requirements in the recently launched National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) and the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS).
Under the NSWS the number of breeding ewes entered in to the scheme or what is known as the payable number needs to be present on farm for completion of actions.
Once this is satisfied the number can be reduced at other times of the year. In contrast, in the SIS the reference number of breeding ewes needs to maintained across the 12-month calendar year. The reference number farmers must maintain in 2026 will be influenced by the number recorded on the 2025 national sheep and goat census.
If the number of breeding ewes returned on the 2025 sheep census, (or in the case of an inspection report or administrative control report) is lower than the scheme payment reference number, then the new lower number will become the scheme payment reference number for 2026.
Farmers can also opt to reduce the reference number if it falls by contacting the Department in writing at sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie or Sheep Improvement Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, R32 RPA6.
NSWS application process: The online application process for the sheep welfare scheme is pretty straightforward. Log in to MyAgfood.ie or Agfood.ie. Click in to the NSWS – this will bring you through to the scheme home page. Select the scheme again from the drop-down ensuring to select the 2026 scheme year. Select this again in the ‘select application type’ drop-down and then press the button “create claim”.
This will present you with your payable number based on the average of the last three sheep census returns. If the 2025 sheep census has a higher number of ewes you can opt to select this figure and if so you must enter it in the box “updated payable number”. Then select two mandatory category A actions – this will then allow you to select an optional category B action.
Select the completion date and then tick the boxes to state that you comply with the scheme terms and conditions. Do not forget to click submit after this step.
Nematodirus risk: The 2025 nematodirus forecast was released in the first week of April in 2025 and highlighted peak hatching across the country with hatching in certain areas a week earlier.
The onset of clinical symptoms is typically from two weeks after peak hatching in lambs aged six to 12 weeks of age. It is probable that this year’s forecast will paint a similar picture when released but if there is no sign of it in the coming week farmers should be mindful to keep an eye out for symptoms such as lambs with a green scour, performing poorly etc.
In some cases lambs could be more exposed to the threat of nematodirus in 2026 if ewes are under greater nutritional stress and lambs are forced to graze more as a result.
Treatment with a white drench (benzimidazoles) is the recommended approach.
The disease should not be confused with coccidiosis which has a characteristic grey/black or blood-stained colour. This is also a big threat this spring given challenging ground conditions and prolonged feeding. The two disease can also be present together.
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