Qualifying items for the 2024 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for Animal Health and Welfare grant
On February 20, 2024, the RPA announced there will be a 2024 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for Animal Health and Welfare.
The RPA has not confirmed opening, application and equipment delivery dates, however, has given the below expectations for Animal Health and Welfare items:
Application opening date: March 20
Application closing date: May 1, 2024 at 12pm
Equipment received deadline: TBD
This guide will be updated with exact dates once confirmed by the RPA.
Funding available: Minimum grant of £1,000 and a maximum of £25,000 within the Animal Health and Welfare theme. The RPA have significantly increased funding with 50% contributions on individual items.
Recipients will be chosen based on a scoring system. Providing evidence of discussing your application with a veterinarian can boost your application score by 20%.
Future product availability: Wise Agriculture has regular shipments of cattle and sheep handling equipment arriving to ensure product availability. We are already communicating with suppliers on plans to increase stock supply to fulfil any orders through the demand period. We advise you place an order as soon as you have been accepted to allow for delivery and installation well ahead of the deadline.
Livestock items that qualify
This guide will outline qualifying items fulfilled by Wise Agriculture in the following order:
Sheep (mobile sheep yards)
Cattle (cattle handling equipment and cow brushes)
Weighing and EID
Sheep
Mobile sheep handling systems
FETF number: FETF69
Grant amount: £4,881
The 3.0m Porta-Yards mobile sheep handling system meets the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for Animal Health and Welfare grant criteria
Specifications:
250 head capacity minimum
Integrated trailer that forms part of the handling race
Road legal
20 hurdles minimum for creation of holding pen, forcing pen and a minimum of two side pens
Drafting race
Dosing race
Ability to fit footbath
Metal material construction that is either galvanised or powder coated
Note: Wood and painted materials and trailers not integrated into the system will disqualify a mobile sheep handling system
Cattle
Manual squeeze cattle crush
FETF number: FETF61
Grant amount: £2,623
Arrowlock 88 Manual Cattle Crush has new headgate lock to hold bulls
Click here for more info and to submit a quote
Specifications:
Manually operated
Full length head yoke/head gate
Crush to open on both sides for complete access to sides of animal
Sliding rear gate that is operated from outside the crush
Galvanised or powder coated metal parts
Anti-slip rubber surface on the floor
Note: Painted metalwork is ineligible
Head scoop for cattle crush
FETF number: FETF62
Grant amount: £302
Specifications:
Restrict side-to-side movement
Have a quick release function
Galvanised or powder coated metal parts
Note: Painted metalwork is ineligible Integrated head restraints supplied with a cattle crush as standard, which cannot be purchased separately and retrofitted, are not eligible under this item.
Hydraulic squeeze cattle crush
FETF number: FETF60
Grant amount: £6,590
Powerlock 108 Series Hydraulic Cattle Crush
Click here for more info and to submit a quote
Specifications:
Hydraulically or pneumatically operated
Full length head yoke/head gate
Crush to open on both sides for complete access to sides of animal
Sliding rear gate that is operated from outside the crush
Galvanised or powder coated metal parts
Anti-slip rubber surface on the floor
Note: Painted metalwork is ineligible. Manually pumped hydraulic or pneumatic systems are not eligible.
Mobile cattle handling system
FETF number: FETF56
Arrowquip has three mobile options that qualify for FETF
Click here for more info and to submit a quote
Grant amount: £8,338
Specifications:
Integrated trailer to carry all components (excluding hurdles)
Race
Crush (manual squeeze crush or manual crush)
Minimum of 10 hurdles for a gathering and holding pens
Crush requires anti-backing facility of either a sliding gate or U-shaped rump bar
Locking head yoke/head gate on crush
Rubber anti-slip surface on crush floor
Metal construction
Galvanised or powder coated metal parts
Fixed cattle handling system
FETF number: FETF57
Grant amount: £6,533
Specifications:
Two fixed metal holding pens
One circular metal forcing pen between 2.4 and 5m radius internally with covered sides
Straight or curved race measuring between 3 and 5m in length with covered sides
Sliding gate at front and back of race
Only one gate is needed if the crush has a sliding gate integrated
All metal materials with the exception of wooden rails with a minimum cross section of 150mm x 100mm within the fixed race, and within the flooring for anti-slip purposes
Galvanised or powder coated metal parts
Fixed to the ground with long-term fixtures (concrete, supporting posts)
Note: The handling system does not include the crush and a crush is not expected to be purchased as part of this item. Painted metalwork is not eligible.
Rotating cow brush
FETF number: FETF98
Grant amount: £877
Specifications:
Swinging and rotating cow brush
Auto start/stop
The AgriCow Pendulum Brush qualifies for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for Animal Health and Welfare grant and features:
Auto stop-start when movement detected
Alternate direction cycles to ensure even wear on bristles
Heavy duty, steel mounting arm
Swinging brushes for calves
FETF number: FETF99
Grant amount: £521
Specifications:
Swinging and rotating calf brush
Auto start/stop
The AgriCow Calf Brush qualifies for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for Animal Health and Welfare grant.
Weighing and EID
EID panel reader for sheep
FETF number: FETF74
Grant amount: £793
Specifications:
Static or race reader
Antenna or Bluetooth connection
Read HDX and FDX B tags
Must be permanently fixed to the sheep handling system
EID panel reader for cattle
FETF number: FETF68
Grant amount: £795
Specifications:
Static or race reader
Antenna or Bluetooth connection
Read HDX and FDX B tags
Must be permanently fixed to the cattle handling system
Individual electronic weigh system (Indicator)
FETF number: FETF78CA
Grant amount: £623
Specifications:
Record and display weight on screen, track liveweight gains, access recorded information on individual animal
If relying on a mobile device for operation, mobile device must be purchased as part of item
EID and auto drafting compatible
Connect to computer or mobile device to download information
Note: Load bars are a separate item. Group and average weighing systems are ineligible
Weigh bars and weigh platforms for weighing livestock
FETF number: FETF79CA
Grant amount: £457
Specifications:
Electronic load bars or electronic weigh platform
Operate with digital weigh heads (indicators) or readers
For cattle crushes or batch weighing sheep or pigs
HD type load bars weighing up to 2,000kg
Weigh bars or platform for animals less than 300kg
FETF number: FETF80CA
Grant amount: £550
Specifications:
Electronic load bars or electronic weigh platform
Operate with digital weigh heads (indicators) or readers
For use with sheep races, sheep crates or pig crates
HD type load bars weighing up to 500kg
EID handheld device (stick reader)
FETF number: FETF82CA
Grant amount: £318
Specifications:
EID stick reader with RFID technology
Capable of scanning tags and storing tag data, with the ability to connect wirelessly to mobile phones or other devices
Will read HDX and FDX B tags
