Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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147. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that will be made available under the new CAP for the dairy beef calf programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53256/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are a range of supports available to (beef) farmers under the new €10 billion CAP strategic plan beginning in 2023, as well as ongoing supports from Government to buffer families and business from the effects of the ongoing energy and cost of living crisis.

In 2023, I provided €5 million for a continuation of the Dairy beef calf scheme which provides payments of €20 per calf for weight recording of up to 20 calves. The Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 provides support to farmers who undertake actions to improve the viability of male dairy calves in locally based production systems.

The measure is proposed to support the use of high dairy beef index (DBI) sires in dairy herds. The aim is to improve the beef traits of calves from the dairy herd to facilitate the enhanced integration between the dairy and beef systems, which will be an important tool in supporting the sustainability of both sectors.

The introduction of the high DBI bulls is to focus on a good welfare outcome for both the cow and the calf. Calf health is greatly dependent on the quality of the calf born. The high DBI index focuses on an easy calving element for the cow minimising calf mortality at birth, while also delivering a calf which will have a better carcass weight and confirmation, and ultimately a better welfare outcome.

Any dairy beef calves born between 1st July of the previous year and 30 June of the scheme year are eligible for payment if sired by a beef sire with a minimum DBI of three stars with the maximum number of eligible animals per applicant being 40.

The annual indicative financial allocation for this intervention is €6.25m, amounting to a total indicative financial allocation €25 million for the period 2024-2027.

The groundwork for this measure had begun with dairy beef measures in recent years and acknowledging the fact that beef from the dairy herd accounts for approximately 55% of the number of prime cattle, a figure that is likely to increase in future years. The most recent dairy beef initiatives, the Dairy Beef Calf schemes of 2021 and 2022 which were part of the Beef Sector Efficiency Programme (BSEP), supported beef farmers who were rearing calves from the dairy herd and had the objective of further increasing the economic and environmental efficiency in the beef herd.

This can be achieved through better quality data on herd performance, supporting decision- making on farm and supporting best practice in welfare management, as well as supporting greater integration between beef and dairy systems.