Further funding announced for cattle housing and livestock equipment
31st July 2023
Livestock farmers will be able to apply for grants of up to £500,000 to improve cattle housing and boost productivity, with further grants being made available for purchasing equipment and technology as part of the government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
Last week, the government announced the launch of the new £10 million Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant, under which farmers will be awarded grants from £15,000 to £500,000 for upgrading cattle buildings and improve conditions for livestock.
Through the scheme, farmers will also be able to access funding for roof-top solar panels to improve the thermal insulation of calf housing while also providing a low-cost energy source.
Applications for the Infrastructure Grant will open later this year, and there are plans to extend the scheme to other livestock sectors, including pig and poultry.
The government has also announced that more than £19 million has been awarded to over 3,000 pig, poultry, sheep and cattle farmers who successfully applied to the first round of the Animal Health and Welfare Equipment and Technology Grant.
These grants, of between £1,000 and £25,000, will help farmers with items ranging from livestock handling equipment to reduce lameness in sheep or cattle or sealed water tanks to reduce disease transmission in outdoor pigs, to automated monitoring system and sensors which free up farmers’ time and limit environmental stress in poultry housing.
Both the Infrastructure and Equipment and Technology grants are part of the government’s wider Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which supports farmers to transition to higher welfare practices and systems, whilst encouraging sustainable food production.
Commenting on the reception of the grants, farming minister Mark Spencer said: “It’s great to see such enthusiasm for these grants, with over 3,000 farmers receiving money through the Equipment and Technology Grant from today, and many more set to benefit with our investment in new and upgraded calf housing through our brand new Infrastructure Grant.”
The Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant will prioritise co-funding new and upgraded calf housing in order to promote better social contact and create a healthier environment for livestock.
Successful applicants could receive funding for a variety of building types – for example, the construction of A-frame buildings to house dairy calves from birth to weaning, or a mono-pitch building on a beef unit to house calves between 3-6 months.
Improved cattle housing will not only ensure calves are healthier, more resilient and productive, but will also enhance the resilience of farm buildings in the face of our changing climate. These infrastructure improvements, which are known to effectively reduce the risk of disease and calf mortality, will also benefit farmers’ bottom line.
