ScotGov’s Animal Health & Welfare Interventions
Last month it was confirmed that ScotGov’s Preparing for Sustainable Farming’s Animal Health and Welfare Interventions will be continued in 2025.
The operation of PSF has not changed:
- Any client who is registered with Scottish Government Rural Payments can claim funding for Animal Health and Welfare Interventions.
- Registered livestock keepers are those who have a BRN (Business Registration Number).
- The BRN must be quoted on the Expert Adviser form.
- Your client can submit one claim per calendar year (by 28 February 2026), covering a maximum of two different Interventions.
- Each Intervention attracts the standard cost of £250.
- The first time your client submits their claim an additional £250 will be automatically added.
- This is to support any learning/development activity associated with sustainable farming.
- There is no need for your client to request this additional CPD funding and no requirement for proof of learning/development activities.
- Total cash available in 2025 will be £750 for a first claim and £500 for those who have already benefited in previous years.
- Each Intervention must be evidenced by a completed Expert Adviser (EA) form, signed by a farm vet or other Expert Adviser.
- Claims for Animal Health and Welfare Interventions will not trigger farm inspections.
- The scheme will end 31 December 2025.
- Interventions remain the same as in previous years:
|
Intervention |
Summary of investigations |
Outline of actions that may be required |
|
1. Bull fertility |
Bull pre-breeding examination to British Cattle Veterinary Association standard |
Vet treatment followed by re-testing and/or culling as needed |
|
2. Calf respiratory disease |
Calf respiratory investigation +/- virus screen |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
|
3. Cattle: liver fluke |
Liver fluke investigation |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
|
4. Cattle: roundworms |
Gastrointestinal parasite (roundworm) investigation: Faecal Egg Count and wormer efficacy testing |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
|
5. Sheep scab |
Screen 12 animals per management group (or all animals in group less than 12) to determine sheep scab status of whole flock |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan that avoids unnecessary treatment, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
|
6. Sheep iceberg diseases |
Targeted disease investigation (options: Maedi Visna, Johnes, Border Disease, Contagious Lymphadenitis, lung scanning for OPA). Screen cull ewes |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures for screening and/or isolating purchased and returning stock, using appropriate expert advice |
|
7. Sheep lameness |
Flock lameness assessment by vet: identify conditions and their prevalence within the flock |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
|
8. Sheep: liver fluke |
Liver fluke investigation |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
|
9. Sheep: roundworms |
Gastrointestinal parasite (roundworm) investigation: Faecal Egg Count and wormer efficacy testing |
Implement sustainable prevention and control plan, including biosecurity measures where relevant, using appropriate expert advice |
Full guidance offering the details of the testing and investigation covered is available at Preparing for Sustainable Farming.
Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 18/03/2025
