About Us

The RDPE Northwest Livestock Programme is a four-year business support package (2009-2013) specifically for livestock farmers in the North West of England.

Five organisations were appointed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) in 2009 to deliver a £6.3 million package of livestock support work across the North West, Delivery is now managed by the Defra RDPE Delivery Team (North West) based in Penrith.

The focus of the work is on improving farm competitiveness through better animal health and welfare and greater efficiency of main farm resources such as fertiliser, fuel, water and energy.

Work carried out by the five organisations covers three main topics set out by Defra:

• Farm Competitiveness - to bring about improvements in the competitiveness of each individual livestock sector to help them compete in the market place.
• Nutrient Management - to provide support for farmers in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of on-farm management of nutrients.
• Animal Health and Welfare - to assist farmers in meeting the changing responsibilities and facilitate improved animal health and welfare.

Work is carried out through:

Resource Efficiency Auditing and Nutrient Management Planning

Nutrient management planning and resource efficiency audits are delivered on farm by agricultural advisory business Promar, who are based in Nantwich, Cheshire using advisers specially trained by SAC Consulting.

Animal Health and Welfare Planning

On farm work is carried out by SAC Consulting along with partners and local vets throughout the North West. The advisors are trained by Kite Consultancy in partnership with The University of Liverpool Veterinary School.

Good practice, communication and sharing knowledge and ideas

Myerscough College in Preston manages this work supported by partners Cumbria Farmer Network, Reaseheath College and EFFP with support from Dairy Co and EBLEX. Projects involve a range of activities throughout the North West. These include setting up monitor farms, running demonstration events and supporting farmer groups, along with a dedicated ICT network (this website) to pass targeted information to interested livestock farmers.

Improvement Scheme Grants are also available to help fund the recommendations

Any reccomendations made by the technical plans (animal health and welfare plans, resource audits and nutrient management plans) offered through the Rural Development Programme for England may be eligible for a performance grant by applying to the Defra RDPE Delivery Team (North West)
based in Penrith. 

The Support and Grants pages of this website provide further information

Further details on the RDPE (Rural Development Programme for England) are available from http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/