# The Suckler Cow Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, Regulation 4: Specific requirements: animals and farm businesses

Extent: N.I.

(1) Subject to paragraph (4), an eligible heifer must have an eligible calving event at a minimum age of 21 months and not exceeding the maximum age specified in column 2 of Table 1 in respect of the scheme year specified in column 1 of Table 1—
Table 1
Column 1 scheme year
Column 2 maximum age at first calving
1
34 months
2
32 months
3
30 months
4
29 months
(2) Subject to paragraph (4), an eligible cow must have an eligible calving event at a minimum calving interval of 271 days and not exceeding the maximum calving interval specified in column 2 of Table 2 in respect of the scheme year specified in column 1 of Table 2—
Table 2
Column 1 scheme year
Column 2 maximum calving interval
1
415 days
2
405 days
3
395 days
4
385 days
(3) The Department shall issue payment for a maximum of two eligible calving events in which an eligible cow has given birth to only eligible dead calves, from the date of commencement of these Regulations.
(4) Subject to paragraph (3), the Department shall not issue payment for any subsequent eligible calving events in which only eligible dead calves are born but will use those subsequent calving events to determine if the calving interval requirements in Table 2 of paragraph (2) are met.
(5) Animals with specified NIFAIS identification, registration and movement or disease statuses as set out in Table 3 shall not be eligible for payment.
Table 3
Age at first calving
Calving interval
Heifer and, or calves with DOBQ - (Date of birth query)
Calves with DOBQ - (Date of birth query)
Calves with VDF - (Valid dam failure)
Calves with VDF - (Valid dam failure)
Heifers and, or calves with IDU - (Identity unknown)
Cows and, or calves with IDU - (Identity unknown)
Calves with BVDU - (Bovine viral diarrhoea unknown)
Calves with BVDU - (Bovine viral diarrhoea unknown)

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2025/41/regulation/4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/suckler-cow-scheme-regulations-northern-ireland-2025/regulation-4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.