9 SEPTEMBER 2016

ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks has welcomed the general outline of the new sheep scheme. “The scheme is substantially in line with what ICSA has been lobbying for. Key elements proposed by ICSA such as the need to ensure that there is no artificial incentive to keep more ewes and a menu type arrangement are integral to the new scheme. We welcome this and we are hopeful that, with certain modifications the scheme will work for sheep farmers.”

However, Mr Brooks was very critical of the meal feeding option for hill lambs which he described as a level of pampering that could not be economically justified for the typical hill lamb.  The ICSA sheep chairman is also concerned that the scheme risks being over-bureaucratic. “For example, the scheme is devised on the basis of selecting one out of two options in category A and then another option from category B. ICSA is insisting on a simpler format where farmers select any two measures they want from the full list. Dividing it into category A and B makes the scheme too restrictive and you run the risk of farmers being excluded where the limited options under category A don’t suit them.

Regarding feeding the hill lambs after weaning, Mr Brooks said the economics don’t stack up. “You have to appreciate the low value of a hill lamb regardless of weight means that meal feeding won’t work for hill farmers especially when you factor in the practical realities. Many hill farmers sell lambs direct after bringing the whole flock down from the hills. Moreover, a scheme such as this should not restrict a farmer’s right to choose when he sells.

Mr Brooks concluded by saying that ICSA hoped to meet the Department this week to thrash out these difficulties but he said that in general ICSA was very supportive of the overall scheme. Mr Brooks said that the association welcomed the fact that there was no link with electronic tagging, which ICSA believes is an unacceptable cost in the case of lambs going direct for slaughter.  

ENDS