The Sheep Improvement Scheme offers financial support for farmers to improve health and welfare in their flock by taking measures that are beyond the mandatory welfare requirements.

During the lifetime of the scheme, participating farmers must submit a BISS application, submit a sheep census return, have an active herd number and keep the required number of breeding ewes.

Farmers will be paid €12 per breeding ewe for completing two of the following welfare measures:

• • lameness control
  • mineral supplementation of ewes post mating
  • meal feeding lambs post weaning
  • parasite control (faecal egg count)
  • management of pregnant ewes (scanning)
  • flystrike control
  • mineral supplementation of lambs pre-weaning
  • Genotyped Ram Action

The Genotyped Ram Action must be completed at least once in the first three years of the scheme. Farmers with 150 breeding ewes or less need only complete this action once. Farmers with over 150 breeding ewes must complete this action again in any subsequent scheme year after the first three years.

All necessary records must be maintained and be in compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Sheep Improvement Scheme. Farmers undertaking parasite control must use the approved list of laboratories for sampling.

Terms and Conditions of the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) can be found here…