The Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (DBWS) will reopen to new applicants tomorrow (Tuesday 21 April).
The DBWS has a budget of €25 million over four years (2024 – 2027) and is co-financed by the European Union as part of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP).
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Haydon said today (Monday 20 April) that the scheme demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting “further integration between dairy and beef herds to improve the quality, welfare and vitality of male calves from dairy herds”.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) explained that the Dairy Beef Welfare Program is a breeding measure that “provides support to dairy farmers to improve the animal health and welfare of the national dairy herd by using genetically superior beef cows to raise dairy beef calves.”
Under the terms of the programme, participants are required to use AI hay or bull stock with a rating of at least three stars on the ICBF Dairy Beef Index (DBI) and on the DBI Beef Sub-Index.
This marks the third year of the scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan, with payments of €5.98 million issued to an estimated 9,175 farmers in February 2026 who had eligible calves born between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
According to the DAFM to be eligible for a DBWS, you must:
- You must be 18 years of age or older on the date of submission of your application;
- Being the owner of an active herd number with “herd owner” status, herd keeper is not acceptable;
- Submit a valid application for Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) on an annual basis;
- Be an active farmer.
Dairy beef care chart
Eligible farmers must also have:
- A male or female calf of beef breed born in a dairy dam;
- These eligible calves must have been born on the property during the program year and be tagged and registered within 27 days of birth.
Minister Haydon also reminded farmers that if they apply for the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme in 2024 or 2025, they “do not need to re-apply” as they take part in the scheme. “It will continue automatically.”
DAFM has confirmed that farmers accepted into the program will receive a payment of 20 euros per qualifying calf, maximum of 50 calves per holding.
The deadline for new applicants to apply for the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme is 23.59 on 15 May 2026.
