Mobile sheep handling systems are among a number of improvements eligible for grant funding in Wales. Grants for mobile handling system can be up as much as £2,800 for a £7,180 system for up to 250 sheep. Grants are also available for smaller flocks and for fixed handling systems.

A list of eligible items can be found at gov.wales/small-grant-efficiency-list-eligible-capital-items-html

“With farm margins being squeezed by high production costs, it comes as welcome relief that farmers are able to offset the cost of key items of equipment,” explained Beverley Taylor, trade solutions marketing manager for MSD Animal Health who market the Allflex range.

“Purpose built mobile handling systems not only make managing and sorting sheep less of a chore for farm workers, but can also reduce stress on animals.

“When used in conjunction with compatible electronic identification (EID) and weighing equipment, they also provide a quick and efficient way of monitoring and weighing sheep, and make the recording of growth rates and movements on and off the farm more accurate and significantly less time consuming compared to pen and paper based systems.

“This all adds up to make it easier for farmers to understand and manage growth rates, to identify under-performing animals and, most importantly, to ensure stock are finished safely and at the optimum weight.

"What’s more, the additional efficiency achieved on-farm supports the environmental sustainability status of sheep farming systems.”

  • Want to make sure all the latest farming news from Wales is delivered straight to your door? Subscribe to the print edition of Wales Farmer on 0800 052 0198.