Louise Preece, Halls associate director and head of Rural Professional Services.
Beef and dairy farmers across Shropshire and the Midlands are being urged to apply for a new grant funding stream introduced by DEFRA to support improvements to animal health and welfare.
Louise Preece, head of Rural Professional Services at Halls, one the UK’s leading regional chartered surveyors, auctioneers, valuers and estate agents, says Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure grants provide funding of between £15,000 and £500,000 for larger infrastructure projects.
“The grants are focussed on the cattle, pig and poultry sectors, to increase productivity and, ultimately, an improved profit margin,” said Louise, an associate director of Halls.
“The first grant available under this funding stream is the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. It will fund new, upgraded and replacement calf housing to help optimise calf growth and performance, specifically concentrating on common problem areas such as social contact, space, ventilation, temperature and humidity within buildings.
“The right housing environment will help to produce healthy and thriving calves with better growth and feed conversion rates, and thus lower costs and mortality rates.”
The grants are available on all beef and dairy calf units for buildings housing calves up to the age of six months. A range of building-types is supported, with the grant paying for structural work, internal fixtures and fittings, the delivery and installation of items and electrical and water supply. Second-hand items are also supported.
The grant scheme opened for initial online applications on September 6 and closes on November 30.
“During this initial stage, farmers can check if they can apply for a grant for their project and check how well their project fits the funding priorities,” added Louise.
“If stage one is successfully completed, farmers will be required to submit details of the design and specification of their proposed project at stage two. If the details submitted at stage two are satisfactory, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application at stage three before the April, 2025 deadline.”
Applications will be assessed according to how well they meet funding priorities, their financial viability, deliverability and sustainability.
For further information on the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, or other grants offered by DEFRA, contact Louise or Halls’ Rural Professional Team at Shrewsbury: 01743 450700 or Kidderminster: 01562 820880
“The grants are focussed on the cattle, pig and poultry sectors, to increase productivity and, ultimately, an improved profit margin,” said Louise, an associate director of Halls.
“The first grant available under this funding stream is the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. It will fund new, upgraded and replacement calf housing to help optimise calf growth and performance, specifically concentrating on common problem areas such as social contact, space, ventilation, temperature and humidity within buildings.
“The right housing environment will help to produce healthy and thriving calves with better growth and feed conversion rates, and thus lower costs and mortality rates.”
The grants are available on all beef and dairy calf units for buildings housing calves up to the age of six months. A range of building-types is supported, with the grant paying for structural work, internal fixtures and fittings, the delivery and installation of items and electrical and water supply. Second-hand items are also supported.
The grant scheme opened for initial online applications on September 6 and closes on November 30.
“During this initial stage, farmers can check if they can apply for a grant for their project and check how well their project fits the funding priorities,” added Louise.
“If stage one is successfully completed, farmers will be required to submit details of the design and specification of their proposed project at stage two. If the details submitted at stage two are satisfactory, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application at stage three before the April, 2025 deadline.”
Applications will be assessed according to how well they meet funding priorities, their financial viability, deliverability and sustainability.
For further information on the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, or other grants offered by DEFRA, contact Louise or Halls’ Rural Professional Team at Shrewsbury: 01743 450700 or Kidderminster: 01562 820880
