Dan Neville
Question:220 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is a minimum number of calves that have to be produced under the cow suckler scheme and, if so, the period for qualification for the scheme. [5272/98]
Written Answers. - Suckler Cow Scheme.
Dan Neville
Question:221 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is a limit to the number of cows that can be replaced during the six month retention period in relation to the suckler cow scheme; and the section of the regulations which determines this. [5273/98]
Article 12 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2066/92 defines that a suckler cow shall mean "(i) a cow belonging to a meat breed — and belonging to a herd intended for rearing calves for meat production and (ii) an in-calf heifer, meeting the same criteria, which replaces a suckler cow".
Any cow that has calved at least once prior to the date of application is eligible to be applied on under the suckler cow premium scheme. All animals applied on or any suitable replacements must be maintained on the holding of the applicant for six calendar months starting on the day after the application is received by my Department. A suitable replacement is defined as another eligible suckler cow or in-calf heifer.
The replacement rate is not limited by regulation. However the regulation requires that the cows applied on are part of a herd intended for rearing calves for meat production. The standard replacement rate for a suckler cow enterprise is 20 per cent of the cows in the herd. If the replacement rate in any herd appears excessive then it is necessary for my Department to carry out further checks to ensure that the cows applied on were indeed part of a suckler cow herd as defined by the regulation.