Mobile sheep handling systems, including those manufactured by Allflex (part of MSD Animal Health) and Prattley, are currently eligible for grant aid in England and Wales.
The latest round of Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), published in February 2023, offers grant funding for a range of Animal Health and Welfare items (Annex 4) in England.
Qualifying mobile sheep handling systems capable of handling a minimum of 250 sheep away from the farm’s main holding (and consisting of at least 20 hurdles, a drafting and dosing race and the ability to fit a footbath) are eligible for maximum grant funding of £3,568.
Annex 4 also provides grant funding for a variety of additional sheep handling equipment including sheep handlers (£1,166 funding available), automatic weighing and drafting crates (£5,478 funding), EID panel readers (£597 funding) and electronic weigh crates (£1,020 funding).
Similar grants are also available in Wales as part of the Welsh Government’s existing small grants efficiency scheme.
“With farm margins being squeezed by high production costs, it comes as welcome relief that farmers are able to offset about 40 peer cent of the cost of key items of equipment through the second round of the Government’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund,” MSD Animal Health’s trade solutions marketing manager, Beverley Taylor, said. “It’s also reassuring to note that equipment that improves the health and welfare of animals – such as dedicated safe handling systems – has been prioritised within the latest round of grants.”
To be eligible for grant funding, mobile handling systems must be trailer mounted and of an all metal construction. The Alligator, Alligator Pro and Prattley ranges offered by Allflex all fall within the required standards and are therefore available at a reduced price while grants remain available.
“Purpose-built mobile handling systems not only make managing and sorting sheep less of a chore for farm workers, but can also reduce stress on animals,” Ms Taylor added. “When used in conjunction with compatible electronic identification (EID) and weighing equipment, they also provide a quick and efficient way of monitoring and weighing sheep, and make the recording of growth rates and movements on and off the farm more accurate and significantly less time consuming compared to pen and paper based systems.
“This all adds up to make it easier for farmers to understand and manage growth rates, to identify under-performing animals and, most importantly, to ensure stock are finished safely and at the optimum weight. What’s more, the additional efficiency achieved on-farm supports the environmental sustainability status of sheep farming systems.”
