SP8: Native breeds at risk supplement

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the native breeds at risk supplement.

• From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
• Published: 2 April 2015
• Last updated: 29 November 2023 — See all updates

• Grant type: Supplement
• Land use: Biodiversity, Flood risk, Livestock management, Priority habitats and Uplands
• Tiers or standalone items: Higher Tier
• Funding (per unit per year): £101 to £200

How much is paid

£167 per hectare (ha).

Where to use this supplement

Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Only on land in combination with a land management option. The species and breed used for grazing must be confirmed in writing by Natural England as being appropriate for achieving the option’s aims.

Native breed at risk (NBAR) grazing livestock must be used that are either:

• registered pedigree purebreeding animals
• genetically-provable purebred progeny of registered pedigree purebreeding parents of the same eligible NBAR breed

Where this supplement cannot be used

• on common land and shared grazing areas
• in combination with SP6 - Cattle grazing supplement

How this supplement will benefit the environment

It is for the conservation of genetic diversity in native breeds at risk.

The number of NBAR stock on the farm will increase or be maintained as agreed. This makes sure that the breeds will not become extinct in England.

Requirements

• state how many registered pedigree purebreeding NBAR livestock they will be keeping, or agreeing to keep, by the end of the agreement
• graze specific parcels with the breeds at risk in accordance with a stocking calendar

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

• a monthly record of grazing animals at the parcel level
• unique individual animal movement identification numbers for each eligible animal
• any changes to the original documentation since submission of the application, such as replacement animals
• stocking calendar agreed with Natural England
• the unique individual permanent NBAR breed identification numbers for each eligible animal - either the pedigree registration number or birth notification number
• breed registration records and proof of animal provenance, parentage and availability for each animal

The detailed requirements for this supplement will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. Applicants should discuss and agree these requirements with their adviser.

Related supplements

This supplement can be located on the same area as the following supplements:

• CT6 – Coastal vegetation management supplement
• GS15 – Haymaking supplement
• GS16 – Rush infestation control supplement
• GS17 – Lenient grazing supplement
• SP2 - Raised water level supplement
• SP3 – Bracken control supplement
• SP4 – Control of invasive plant species supplement
• SP5 – Shepherding supplement
• SP7 – Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly
• SP9 - Threatened species supplement
• WD9 – Livestock exclusion supplement – scrub and successional areas
• WT12 – Wetland grazing supplement

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this supplement

The following section gives advice on carrying out this supplement successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this supplement.

Breeds

The UK NBAR list shows the eligible breeds. Information on suitable breeds for different types of grassland and how to manage them is available at the Grazing Animals Project.

On farms with mainstream breeds as well as NBAR livestock payment will be limited to an area of land sufficient to maintain the eligible NBAR livestock.

Biodiversity

This supplement has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Higher Tier including how to apply.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 29 November 2023 + show all updates

1. 29 November 2023

   Additional information added to where to use this supplement and where this supplement cannot be used.

2. 8 February 2022

   New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

3. 8 March 2017

   Updated for 2017 applications.

4. 29 March 2016

   Information updated for applications in 2016.

5. 2 April 2015

   First published.