Question about Suckler Grant scheme

InchicoreDude

Got a letter today asking me to fill in the castration dates for all the animals that have gone through this scheme since '08. Generally, I didnt castrate the weanlings as there was no stipulation to do so. In some case, I castrated them after they went through the process but never entered the date afterwards. What should I do? Just make up dates after the weaning process???

pakalasa

Get your hands on the full terms of the suckler scheme. As far as I can remember, you cant castrate over 6 months of age. Only a Vet can do them for you. I take it you held on to some of the weanlings and they were later sold as bullocks. That's why they are looking for the castrtration date.

So be careful with the dates or it will cause major hassle for you.


Here's the text from the Terms & Conditions

8.3 Measure 3 - Castration of calves

It is not compulsory to castrate all male calves under this Scheme. However, where calves are going to be castrated, they

must be castrated at least four weeks prior to weaning date, or at least two weeks after the calf has been weaned. It is illegal
to castrate an animal over six months of age without veterinary involvement. Evidence of completion of this task by a
VeterinarySurgeon may be requested by the Department.
It is recommended that castration be undertaken at the earliest possible age to minimise stress.

Date of Castration must be recorded in the Animal Events System.


Here's the link to it.
http://www.icbf.com/services/suckler/files/AWRBSTermsandConditions191207.pdf



PS - So put down dates within 6 months of the birth dates. Use a bit of imagination too. Dont put all different dates. Maybe group into different dates according to age. Do on a Saturday too. Looks more credible if you are part-time.

Dunedin

pakalasa wrote: »

Do on a Saturday too. Looks more credible if you are part-time.

no doubt you are in the scheme too by the sounds it............:D:D

pakalasa

Dunedin wrote: »

no doubt you are in the scheme too by the sounds it............:D:D

Oh ya, a full paid up member.:D

A oldish guy from teagasc, summed it up at one of the training sessions - 'Lads, the most important thing here is to get the dates right'.

leg wax

pakalasa wrote: »

Oh ya, a full paid up member.:D

A oldish guy from teagasc, summed it up at one of the training sessions - 'Lads, the most important thing here is to get the dates right'.

they sent me a letter yesterday looking for dates for casteration, and the 2 calves were dead 1 abortion the other a twin that was dead at birth and born in 08 and i have already been paid on these.

InchicoreDude

Aye, I know I have to be careful to put them in under 6 months. Also ave to be carefult to ensure they comply with the weaning dates... Have already been paid for all these calves as they are last years & the year before. They havent mentioned this years at all yet but it says "Before we can process your case, we need these dates..." Question I now ask is why they didnt need these dates last year??? This must be an attempt at tightening the belt...

bouli73

On a related topic, is the suckler grant scheme still open to newcomers?

adne

bouli73 wrote: »

On a related topic, is the suckler grant scheme still open to newcomers?

It will be dead in the water for existing members after Tuesday week never mind accepting new comers.

locky76

InchicoreDude wrote: »

Got a letter today asking me to fill in the castration dates for all the animals that have gone through this scheme since '08. Generally, I didnt castrate the weanlings as there was no stipulation to do so. In some case, I castrated them after they went through the process but never entered the date afterwards. What should I do? Just make up dates after the weaning process???

i was asked for documentarty evidence that the vet had castrated my bull calves so i wrote a letter and got the vet to sign and stamp it, worked out ok.
maybe if you do this for after the SCWS dates it might placate them, you could alsdo claim that you sold them whole and that the next man castrated them.
i find the department ok on things like this if you know what you should be doing and you ring them up looking for guidance on how to regularise (in their eyes) what you've done.

Figerty

leg wax wrote: »

they sent me a letter yesterday looking for dates for casteration, and the 2 calves were dead 1 abortion the other a twin that was dead at birth and born in 08 and i have already been paid on these.

Obviously, you should have taken the dead calf, castrated it and filled in the form to satisfy the red tape for the department!!

reps4

Hi,

As an aside Q regarding suckler scheme, what is min time gap that a cow can have since her last calve?

will 11 months ring alarm bells?

Thanks.

blue5000

should be ok, 10 mths gets a bit dodgy, good luck with registering them, when it gets out of hand its a right fcukin mess