Reduced ewe numbers and scheme compliance

The results of the 2024 annual sheep and goat census are unlikely to be released for another couple of months based on previous years’ experience. Anecdotal reports from scanning operators, farmers, vets etc however point to another significant cut in ewe numbers and likely a repeat of the 100,000+ head reduction experienced in 2023.

These predictions are also being reflected in the number of producers querying how they remain compliant with lower numbers with schemes such as the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) and the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS).

The SIS is a multi-year scheme which runs for the duration of the current CAP policy – ie 2023 to 2027, while the SWS is a one-year scheme introduced in 2024 where participants apply annually.

SIS reference number

The SIS requires participants to maintain their reference number across the full calendar year.

Hoggets can suffice to replace ewe numbers for the purpose of maintaining the reference number but these are only taken as eligible once they turn 12 months of age.

Furthermore, an applicant’s reference number of sheep must be present to complete the chosen actions.

For example – if we take a flock with a reference number of 80 sheep and possess 65 ewes and 20 yearling hoggets at scanning, the reference number is maintained, but to satisfy the action of pregnancy scanning the 65 ewes and at least 15 ewe hoggets would need to have been scanned.

If the number of eligible sheep on the farm falls below the scheme reference number then the advice is to contact the Department of Agriculture in writing to notify them of the reduction in numbers. Notifications can be sent via email to sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie or in hardcopy form to Sheep Improvement Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, CoLaois, R32 RPA6.

If an applicant fails to notify the Department and a deficit is identified in the course of a desk or field inspection then a penalty of twice the deficit number identified may be imposed. For example if we take our 80 ewe flock above and only 65 eligible females are present at inspection, then the penalty imposed will be the payment on 30 head – 15 head deficiency in the reference number multiplied by two.

It is reported that the scheme will also open for new entrants in 2025.

When the scheme opened to new entrants in 2024 a new entrant was defined as an applicant who has applied for a new flock number within the period from 1 December 2020 to 31 December 2023, or an applicant with an existing flock number who has not held or traded in sheep for a three-year period from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2023.

Reference number check

If you do not know your reference number, it can be found online by logging on to your agfood.ie account, clicking on to ‘Ag Schemes – Sheep Improvement Scheme’.

This will present a pop-up box with contact details for the Department.

When you close this, there will be an applications list detailing your application.

There are three dots to the right of this information and clicking on this will trigger another pop-up giving the option to view your application which states your reference number.

Sheep welfare scheme

The SWS is slightly different to the SIS as the application process is annually and therefore likely to be based on more up-to-date flock numbers. The figure on which payment is based in the SWS was known last year as the ‘payable number’ and the upper limit was based on the previous year’s census or an average of recent year’s census returns.

Farmers also had the option of entering a lower payable number to reflect lower numbers in the flock at the time of application or plans to reduce numbers. In contrast to the SIS the payable number in the SWS did not have to be maintained across the calendar year and once it was satisfied for the chosen actions could be reduced thereafter.

For example for a flock selecting clostridial disease vaccination and shearing the two actions could have been satisfied by April/May with flocks free to reduce numbers thereafter. This was a desirable feature of the scheme and one that many farmers are hoping is maintained once the scheme opens for applications in 2025.

Hoggets aged one year and over were also eligible for being included in the completion of actions.

SWS Actions

As reported in previous weeks the SWS is expected to open with broadly the same actions in 2025 with the inclusion of an additional action.

It is proposed that participants select two actions from a category A list including shearing, clostridial disease vaccination and body condition scoring and one action from a category B listing including plunge dipping to control external parasites and footbathing to control lameness.