The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has described the new National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme (NDBWS) as "a step in the right direction".

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon said that the €4 million scheme has been introduced to support farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd and to further encourage greater integration of the dairy and beef sectors.

However, IFA Livestock Committee chair Declan Hanrahan has said that the scheme must be built on to adequately support farmers making long-term investments in rearing beef calves from the dairy herd.

The scheme for 2025 will pay farmers rearing these calves €20/calf to a maximum of 50 calves.

Hanrahan said that the measure is a start in addressing the "huge mistake" made by government in not providing a scheme of this nature in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan.

“The challenges in retaining farmers in this production system are well documented.

"If we are to have a long-term sustainable approach to rearing dairy beef calves, the level of direct support available to farmers must be built on to bring the payment to €100/calf reared,” he said.

The IFA Livestock chair said other improvements to this scheme for future years must include the removal of the maximum number of eligible calves.

He also believes that serious consideration must be given to including Commercial Beef Value (CBV) as an eligibility criterion for calves in the scheme.

“The scheme announced by the minister is just for 2025. He must show his long-term commitment by setting out clearly and in advance of the peak breeding season on dairy farms the supports and the criteria that will be attached for future years,” Hanrahan said.

“Farmers making investments on their farms for this production system need clear sight of the longer term supports that will be available to them and dairy farmers making breeding decisions need sight of the type of calves that will be supported in future years,” he added.