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Crofting: Promoting occupation, use and shared management of land.

CATTLE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

You may be aware that on 8th February 2010 the Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, announced that a bull stud facility will continue to be run by the Scottish Government to promote the active management of crofts and thereby deliver the economic and environmental benefits of keeping cattle, and encourage crofters to cooperate and work together to keep cattle of high health status in remote rural Scotland, at a reasonable equitable cost.

The flat rate cost to approved applicants for 2010 is £1,250 (inclusive of VAT) per bull. If not overwintering at the Crofters Commission Stud Farm the flat rate cost will be £950 for a native bull and £900 for a continental bull (both inclusive of VAT).
 
Further information will be available shortly.
 
Contact: John Cowan, Farm Manager. T:01463 231261 M:07767 673717
Can we apply for any breed?The Commission reserves the right to supply a breed, which it considers more suitable. Where herd replacements are made from homebred heifers, suitable breeds for that purpose will be provided.
Which breeds of bull are available?Aberdeen Angus, Charolais, Highland, Limousin, Luing, Saler, Shorthorn and Simmental.
Who is responsible for delivery to and collection of bulls from the township?This is normally arranged by the Commission, charges listed above. Any alternative arrangements would require the Commission’s approval.
Must the custodian/keeper be present when the bull is delivered?Yes. If the custodian is not available then the group must appoint a responsible member or representative of the group. This person must be competent in handling such livestock, must be personally present to receive the bull. The nominated representative and their contact details should be provided on the confirmation section of Conditions of Hire document.
What if there is no person available at the time of delivery?In the absence of a competent person to take delivery at the appointed place and time, the bull will be returned directly to the Commission stud. Should the delivery driver have reason to be concerned as to the competence or fitness of any person taking delivery of the bull, he may refuse to offload the bull and return it to the Commission stud.
What facilities must the group provide at the delivery point?The group is responsible for ensuring that the facilities at the delivery point are suitable for the safe delivery and handover of each bull. The delivery driver has sole discretion to judge the fitness or otherwise of the facility and may refuse to offload the bull at an unsuitable facility.
What documentation is required?The delivery driver will pass the cattle passport and delivery note to the responsible person when the bull is delivered. The delivery note must be signed by the responsible person acknowledging receipt of the bull and passport, the delivery note is then returned to the driver. At this point the group becomes the keeper of the animal, assumes responsibility for the bull, for all movement recording and safekeeping for the passport.
Who is responsible for the bull while in the township?Township Committees and other approved groups must provide for the adequate keep and welfare of the bull and appoint a custodian to be responsible for its care. The custodian should take all reasonable steps to keep the bull under proper control. The custodian must be under 70 years of age.
What if there are breeding difficulties with the cows to be served?Then service may be refused by the custodian and the case reported immediately to the Clerk of the Committee or group representative who should inform the Finance Team on T:01463 663413 who will contact Livestock staff. Where there is evidence of abortion or it is found difficult to get cows or heifers to hold to the bull, the local veterinary surgeon should be consulted and the Finance Team informed.
Who arranges for the uplift of the bull?Commission staff will contact the group to arrange the time and place for uplift and will confirm the name of individual responsible for the handover the bull/s. These details will again be confirmed by telephone in the week prior to uplift.
What must we do to prepare for the uplift of the bull?All bulls must be haltered and tethered prior to being handed over by the named individual who must be competent in handling such livestock. The same individual will handover the cattle passport to the delivery driver. At this point the Commission becomes the keeper of the animal/s, assumes responsibility for it, for all movement recording and for the passport. The driver will not uplift the bull if the cattle passport is not available at the time of uplift.
What facilities must the group provide at the uplift point?The group is responsible for ensuring that the facilities at the uplift point are suitable for the handling of bulls. The delivery driver has sole discretion to judge the fitness or otherwise of the facility and may refuse to uplift the bull from an unsuitable facility. In the absence of suitable facilities, the presence of the competent person or if the bull is not suitably haltered and restrained at the appointed place and time, the bull will not be uplifted.
Will the group be charged if the bull is unable to be delivered/uplifted?In the event that the bull/s is unable to be delivered/uplifted due to failure of the group to provide suitable facilities, lack of a competent person being present or the passport not being available. The group will be liable for all additional charges associated with the return of the bull/s to and from the Commission stud.
How do we know that the bull provided will be fertile and disease free?Only fertile bulls found free from clinical evidence of disease are dispatched to townships.
What are the arrangements for wintering the bulls?Bulls are normally returned each autumn to the Commission’s Stud Farm for wintering. If a township requests to over winter a bull and there are adequate facilities and keep available then any such arrangement requires the approval of the Commission.
Do we need insurance cover for the period of hire? (Hire Only. Purchasers will have to make own arrangements)Hire of a bull includes an insurance premium of £17. Under this scheme, the Commission has arranged cover for the townships and groups under public liability insurance up to £2,000,000 and also minimal cover for the custodians under personal accident insurance. Details are available from the Farm Manager. As the cover for personal accident is minimal you may wish to consider arranging additional cover privately to a level you consider adequate.
What if the bull has an accident or dies in our care? (Hire Only)This must be reported immediately to the local veterinary surgeon and to the Commission. If the bull dies the veterinary surgeon’s report stating the cause of death must be sent to the Commission without delay and the carcass disposed of in accordance with regulations.
What if the bull dies while overwintering at the Commission Stud Farm? (Purchase Only)The Commission will be responsible for the care of the bull while overwintering. If the bull dies during that period, the Commission's liability will not extend beyond the £500 originally paid for the bull.
What if the bull needs veterinary attention? If you need to call a veterinary surgeon to attend the bull, you should do so and immediately inform the Commission.
Who pays the veterinary surgeon’s fees? (Hire Only)You must meet these costs in the first instance. The Commission may refund in part provided you submit a detailed and receipted voucher for the amount along with a veterinary report or a report by the township clerk.
Will the Commission monitor the condition of the bull while in our care? (Hire Only)Yes. Commission officials or their representatives must have access to inspect bulls.
Who is responsible for the collection of the fees from individual cow owners?Responsibility lies with the Grazing Clerk/Constable or secretary/ representative of the group. These should be collected and submitted by the due date.
Is VAT payable?VAT is payable on the hire charge, transport costs and wintering charges only.
What if we fail to comply with the conditions of the Scheme?The Commission will refuse to supply further bulls on loan. In all cases of dispute, the Commission’s decision is final.
Does the Bull Hire scheme, or selling bulls at less than market value, raise any State Aid concerns?State Aid requirements covering agriculture do not allow support for livestock production or the means of production. This includes bull supply or hire. Such supply or hire can however be provided under State Aid de minimis rules. However, a limit per individual of €7,500 over 3 years applies to de minimis assistance from any public sector source (Government, Local Authorites or agencies)Each beneficiary within a group will have their share of the difference, between teh actual cost of the bull or hire costs and any sums actually paid by them, recorded against their personal de minimis limits. Per bull (or group), this could currently be up to 3 or 4 times the charge. Usage of the Bull Hire Scheme, on its own, is presently not anticipated to reach individual de minimis limits.
How can I appeal against a decision?Our aim is to provide a good standard of service but if there is any aspect of the administration of the Scheme about which you have a complaint, we shall investigate this fully. Any complaints or appeals against decisions should be addressed in writing to the Chief Executive, Crofters Commission, Castle Wynd, Inverness, IV2 3EQ.

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