Payments under the 1996 suckler cow and beef premium schemes are limited by the application of a stocking density of two livestock units per hectare. Stocking density is calculated on the basis of the forage area available to an applicant, the number of dairy cows needed to produce the milk quota, if any, allocated to the applicant and the number of livestock units represented by the number of ewes, male animals and suckler cows for which a premium application has been submitted in the calendar year.
In this case the herdowner declared a forage area of 10.78 hectares and no milk quota. This entitles the herdowner to payment on up to 21.56 livestock units. Advance payments of 80 per cent have issued in respect of 10.2 livestock units under the beef premium scheme and 11.36 livestock units under the suckler cow premium scheme. Payment of the remaining 20 per cent balance is expected to issue shortly.