The person named submitted four applications under the 2003 special beef/bull premium scheme, one on 23 June 2003 in respect of seven animals, one on 7 October 2003 in respect of five animals, one on 20 October 2003 in respect of eight animals and one on 4 November 2003 in respect of one animal. Under the EU regulations governing the 2003 special beef premium scheme a stocking density of 1.8 livestock units per hectares applies, based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area aid application. As the forage area declared on the area aid application is 46.10 hectares, the number of units that may be calculated for livestock premium purposes is 82.98 livestock units.
The reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of the calendar year as follows: male cattle seven months and up to and including 24 months old on which the producer applies for 2003 special beef and bull premium — 0.6 livestock unit each; male cattle over 24 months old on which the producer applies for 2003 special beef and bull premium — one livestock unit each; ewes on which the producer applies for 2003 ewe premium — 0.15 livestock unit each; notional dairy cows needed to produce 3,982 litres of any milk quota held at 31 March — 1 April 2003 — 1 livestock unit each; suckler cows on which the producer applies for 2003 suckler cow premium — one livestock unit each; heifers eight months and up to and including 24 months on which the producer applies for 2003 suckler cow premium — 0.6 livestock unit each; and heifers over 24 months on which the producer applies for 2003 suckler cow premium — one livestock unit each.
In this case, the milk quota of 366,683 litres utilises 92.08 livestock units — 366,683 divided by 3,982 — leaving no remaining livestock units to cover special beef premium. Therefore, the person named is not entitled to payment in respect of the 21 animals applied for under the 2003 special beef premium scheme. The person named has been paid the national envelope top-up under the 2003 slaughter premium scheme in full in respect of 12 animals. The national envelope top-up is paid on beef breed heifers who have qualified for the slaughter premium 2003 and are at least eight months and under 30 months on the date of slaughter within the EU or when exported live to a non-EU country. Forty animals were slaughtered under the herd number of the person named in 2003, of which twelve were eligible for the top-up.