Farm health planning - cattle initiative
UK - The NFU is backing a move to access extra cash for voluntary Farm Health Planning within the cattle sector.
14 December 2006
2 minute read
Farm Health Planning (FHP) is central to the delivery of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy in Great Britain and is based on three principles
- Working in partnership
- Understanding the roles and responsibilities and
- Prevention is better than cure
Funding, under the Farm Health Planning Cattle Initiative, will be available for a range of projects which when linked together must achieve the overall initiative of improving animal health in the English cattle sector.
The scheme hopes to demonstrate the benefits of farm health planning both in terms of increases in cattle health and welfare and business profitability, delivering advice and training on FHP products, such as cost-benefit models and planning templates, and facilitating farmer and adviser networks.
Applications for project funding are being invited now. The closing date for applications is Friday January 19 2007
NFU animal health and welfare adviser Catherine McLaughlin said: “The opportunity that this cattle initiative brings to the dairy and beef sectors must not be allowed to pass by.
“Farm health planning can benefit all livestock owners by improving the health and welfare of their animals, often bringing improvements in production and increased levels of profitability as well as wider benefits of rural and agricultural sustainability.
“Farmers should encourage their vets, farm advisers and nutritionists to put forward innovative projects for funding. If you’re in a farmer group, and have a proposal that actively encourages FHP and meets the criteria as set out by Defra, get a funding application in – you might be successful. There is little time to loose in putting bids together but the effort in the short term should pay dividends for the longer term.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
