The National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (NDBWS) has proven popular in 2025, with over 18,000 applications received by the deadline on 15 May 2025.
The scheme offers payment of €20/calf, up to 50 calves, or a maximum payment per herd of €1,000, for weighing and recording of weights with the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation (ICBF).
The scheme did not operate in 2024, but in previous years there has been a large drop-off from the number of farmers applying for the scheme and the number receiving payment.
For example, upwards of 14,800 farmers applied to the scheme in 2023, but only 8,402 farmers were eligible for payments, totalling €5.3m.
There have been questions in recent weeks concerning what happens in the case of the number of calves recorded exceeding funds.
If this materialises, the terms and conditions state “that in the event that the scheme is oversubscribed, then a reduction on the maximum number of animals eligible for payment may be applied”.
However, this should not deter farmers from recording weights, as there is also likely to be pressure to find additional funds in the case of the allocated funding being exhausted.
Eligible calves
Dairy and non-dairy herds rearing calves can apply. Herds must weigh a minimum of five eligible calves in order to qualify for payment. The Department defines an eligible calf as follows:
Was born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Is a male calf of a dairy breed, and/or a male or female calf sired by a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam.Is at least 12 weeks of age at the time of weighing and has been registered on the holding s/he is being weighed on for a minimum of 10 days prior to the date of weighing. Is in the ownership and possession of the applicant and maintained on the holding.Is alive at the time of weighing. Has been tagged and registered within 27 days of birth in accordance with EU Regulation 1760/2000. Failure to register a calf within 27 days of birth will result in the animal being ineligible for payment.
The Department highlights that all weights should be submitted within seven days of weighing and no later than 5.30pm on 1 November 2025.
Weights can be recorded through data software packages linked to the ICBF, or directly on the ICBF database via its weight recording app or its website.
Cattle handling unit.
Hardcopy weight-recording forms can also be requested from ICBF, where online recording of weights is not possible. These can be requested by ringing ICBF on 023-8832883.
The weight-recording portal can be accessed on ICBF as follows:
Login to your ICBF account. Select services from the list of options at the top of the webpage and Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme from the list of dropdown options. If a scales has been previously linked to your herd, this will be stated and likewise where a scales is rented from ICBF, this will also be linked. Otherwise, a scales will need to be linked before weights can be recorded. Click on record weights and this will present a list of animals to be weighed and the option to view animals with valid weights, or animals deemed invalid for the scheme.
The National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (NDBWS) has proven popular in 2025, with over 18,000 applications received by the deadline on 15 May 2025.
The scheme offers payment of €20/calf, up to 50 calves, or a maximum payment per herd of €1,000, for weighing and recording of weights with the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation (ICBF).
The scheme did not operate in 2024, but in previous years there has been a large drop-off from the number of farmers applying for the scheme and the number receiving payment.
For example, upwards of 14,800 farmers applied to the scheme in 2023, but only 8,402 farmers were eligible for payments, totalling €5.3m.
There have been questions in recent weeks concerning what happens in the case of the number of calves recorded exceeding funds.
If this materialises, the terms and conditions state “that in the event that the scheme is oversubscribed, then a reduction on the maximum number of animals eligible for payment may be applied”.
However, this should not deter farmers from recording weights, as there is also likely to be pressure to find additional funds in the case of the allocated funding being exhausted.
Eligible calves
Dairy and non-dairy herds rearing calves can apply. Herds must weigh a minimum of five eligible calves in order to qualify for payment. The Department defines an eligible calf as follows:
Was born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Is a male calf of a dairy breed, and/or a male or female calf sired by a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam.Is at least 12 weeks of age at the time of weighing and has been registered on the holding s/he is being weighed on for a minimum of 10 days prior to the date of weighing. Is in the ownership and possession of the applicant and maintained on the holding.Is alive at the time of weighing. Has been tagged and registered within 27 days of birth in accordance with EU Regulation 1760/2000. Failure to register a calf within 27 days of birth will result in the animal being ineligible for payment.
The Department highlights that all weights should be submitted within seven days of weighing and no later than 5.30pm on 1 November 2025.
Weights can be recorded through data software packages linked to the ICBF, or directly on the ICBF database via its weight recording app or its website.
Cattle handling unit.
Hardcopy weight-recording forms can also be requested from ICBF, where online recording of weights is not possible. These can be requested by ringing ICBF on 023-8832883.
The weight-recording portal can be accessed on ICBF as follows:
Login to your ICBF account. Select services from the list of options at the top of the webpage and Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme from the list of dropdown options. If a scales has been previously linked to your herd, this will be stated and likewise where a scales is rented from ICBF, this will also be linked. Otherwise, a scales will need to be linked before weights can be recorded. Click on record weights and this will present a list of animals to be weighed and the option to view animals with valid weights, or animals deemed invalid for the scheme. 
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