SPM4: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)
What you must do to get paid for this action and advice on how to do it.
This is an action in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme: expanded offer for 2024. You must read the SFI scheme information to understand the scheme rules and how to apply.
Duration
Same as base action
How much you’ll be paid
£7 per hectare (ha) per year
Action’s aim
This supplemental action’s aim is that at least 50% of the grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland or lowland heathland habitats are rare native breeds of livestock.
The purpose of this is to maintain or increase the number of rare native breed grazing livestock.
Where you can do this action
You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land that you’re grazing with livestock, which is entered into one of the following base actions:
- AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land
- AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land
- UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland
- UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland
- UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland
- UPL7: Shepherding livestock on moorland (no required stock removal period)
- UPL8: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months)
- UPL9: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 6 months)
- UPL10: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months)
- SCR1: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics
- SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics
- OFM3: Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing
- GRH1: Manage rough grazing for birds
Eligibility of protected land
| Protected land | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) | Same as base action |
| Historic and archaeological features | Same as base action |
Available area you can enter into this action
This is the same as the base action.
Rotational or static action
This is the same as the base action.
What to do
Each grazing season, at least 50% of the total GLU on land entered into this action must be:
- pedigree rare native breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised pedigree breeding book
- on the UK native animal breeds at risk (NBAR) list
Where relevant, the stocking density (total GLU) on land entered into this action must be as required in the applicable base action.
To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:
- Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
- Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
- Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
- Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
- Goat – 0.12 GLU
- Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
- Horse – 1.0 GLU
Advice to help you find out how to calculate the livestock density will be published before applications are fully launched from summer 2024. It will not be part of this action’s requirements.
You must produce the following written records:
- a monthly record of grazing animals at the parcel level
- unique individual animal movement identification numbers for each eligible animal
- changes to the original documentation since the action’s start date, such as replacement animals
- 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
When to do it
You must do this action each year of its duration.
How to do it
It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
- follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
- do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
Advice to help you find out how to manage moorland or lowland heathland habitats with native breeds will be published before applications are fully launched from summer 2024. It will not be part of this action’s requirements.
Evidence to keep
You must keep the required written records and supply this evidence if we ask for it.
Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action
You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action. Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read ‘What to do’ and ‘When to do it’ to find out when this action must be done.
| Scheme | Action or option codes |
|---|---|
| SFI actions | Same as base action |
| CS options | Same as base action |
| ES options | Same as base action |
| SFI pilot standards | Same as base action |
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 6 ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ for more information.