More than 2,400 valid applications were received under the Calf Investment Scheme earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed.

In a statement to AgriLand, the department confirmed that a total of 2,414 valid applications were received under the scheme.

It was noted that all valid applications are eligible to receive grant-aid of 40% on the lower of their approval/receipted cost subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.

At the end of March, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the significant demand for this scheme, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed confirmed that he had increased the scheme’s budget from the original €1.5 million to €4 million, to fully fund all eligible applications received.

Under the scheme, the minimum investment required is €1,000, excluding VAT, while the maximum investment is €7,500 excluding VAT.

The primary investment focus is supporting calf feeding systems such as computerised calf feeders, milk carts with mixer included and calf teat feeders.

When a farmer purchased one of these items, they were also eligible to receive support for the purchase of other items, such as calf milk heaters, calf forage/hay racks, calf meal troughs, calf feed barriers and calf pen dividers.