February 25 2010
A TOTAL of 128 performance grant applications have so far gone through decision panels to help improve animal health and welfare, nutrient management and resource efficiency on livestock farms in the North West.
Animal health and welfare recommendations made by local vets and advisors have led to grants being offered for back-flush systems, heat detection, comfort mattresses and cubicles, specialist handling systems and specialist calf feeders.
The type of nutrient management projects that have successfully been offered 40% grants have included covering middens and silage pits, slurry aerators and separators.
And resource efficiency recommendations have so far seen performance grants offered to help fund heat recovery systems, solar panels, plate coolers and a wind turbine.
These applications have largely been from dairy farms across the North West:
- 110 dairy or dairy/mixed farms, 16 beef and sheep farms, one poultry farm and one pig farm.
- These grants came from the recommendations of 81 animal health and welfare plans, 24 nutrient management plans, 17 resource efficiency audits and six applications combining the recommendations of two plans or a plan and audit.
Four applications were turned down or invited to resubmit.
Grants offered to date after three rounds of panel decisions:
| Animal Health and Welfare | 82 | £485,590 |
| Resource Efficiency | 18.5 | £108,675 |
| Nutrient Management | 23.5 | £139,535 |
| Total | 124 | £733,800 |