We are a couple of years into the AHWP funding now, and lots of clients have made the most of this government funding to investigate disease on farm. The scheme has changed a few times since its inception, so a reminder of what is on offer:
• Funding can be claimed annually on cattle, sheep and pig enterpises for an annual review and then a follow up visit with your vet
• To be eligible you need >11 cattle, >21 sheep or >51 pigs, a SBI number and need to sign up online with your RPA log in details (Customer Reference Number and password)
• There is mandatory disease testing for BVD for cattle, anthelmintic resistance for sheep and PRRS for pigs plus health planning. The rest of the funding can be used at follow ups for other investigations and biosecurity assessments specific to your farm.
• You can claim 3 annual reviews and 3 follow ups until 19th June 2027.
• Recently the funding increased, so you can now claim the following:- Dairy cattle £447 for review and £258-1844 for follow up (dependent on BVD results)- Beef cattle £647 for review
and £258-954 for follow up (dependent on BVD results)- Sheep £574 for review and £658 for follow up.
It is also now possible to claim for multiple enterprises on the same holding if they serve different purposes. For example you may have a commercial lowland lambing flock and a pedigree show flock which lamb at different times and are managed completely separately. These would qualify for two sets of funding.
Here is an example of how one beef and sheep client has used the funding:
Used annual review for beef suckler herd for BVD testing and health planning to meet Red Tractor requirements. Used follow up funding to discuss biosecurity on farm and test for trace element deficiencies. Then had annual review for their sheep flock looking at anthelmintic resistance and health planning.
Identified issues with ewe condition and used follow up funding to investigate trace element deficiencies and iceberg
diseases e.g. Johnes and MV in the flock. The result is tailored trace element supplementation for this year and next, parasite control plan for the flock, and ewes in much better condition entering this lambing period than they were last year.
Speak to your vet to learn more
Written By Katie Scotter, Veterinary Surgeon
