UPL4: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU)
What you must do to get paid for this action and advice on how to do it.
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
3 years
How much you’ll be paid
£7 per hectare (ha) per year
Action’s aim
This supplemental action’s aim is that at least 30% of the grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland are cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.
The purpose of this is to:
- create a more varied sward structure
- control scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation
- increase wildlife diversity
Where you can do this action
You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land entered into one of the following base actions:
- UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland
- UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland
- UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland
If you apply for this supplemental action, you cannot apply for the following supplemental actions on the same area:
- UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU)
- UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 100% GLU)
Eligibility of protected land
| Protected land | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) | Same as your selected base action |
| Historic and archaeological features | Same as your selected base action |
Available area you can enter into this action
This is the same as your selected base action.
Rotational or static action
This is the same as your selected base action.
What to do
At least 30% of the GLU on land entered into UPL1, UPL2 or UPL3 must be cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.
You must include the following information in the written stocking calendar required for UPL1, UPL2 and UPL3:
- dates you plan to graze the land parcel with cattle, ponies or both during each calendar month
- monthly numbers of cattle, ponies or both, including the age bracket for cattle
When to do it
You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year 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
You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
Evidence to keep
You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.
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 your selected base action |
| CS options | Same as your selected base action |
| ES options | Same as your selected base action |
| SFI pilot standards | Same as your selected 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’ in the SFI scheme information for more details.
You can do one of the following supplemental actions on the same area as this supplemental action:
- SPM4: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)
- SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)
Advice to help you do this action
The following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
How to calculate the livestock percentage
Once you’ve converted your livestock numbers into GLU using the values shown under ‘What to do’, you can use the to calculate the percentage of total GLU entered into your selected base action.
The GLU percentage is an annual average.
Grazing moorland with cattle and ponies
Before you graze with cattle or ponies, or a combination of both, it’s advisable to assess your moorland so you can manage grazing in a way that helps to:
- maintain, enhance or restore habitats
- protect historic and archaeological features
You can apply for CMOR1: assess moorland and produce a written record to help you identify opportunities for managing cattle and pony grazing on your moorland.
Type of cattle
Cattle with low nutritional requirements (such as dry suckler cows) are best for sites with fibrous herbage.
Mature and placid cattle are best suited for sites where there are ground-nesting birds, as they reduce the risk of trampling.
Type of pony
Hardy native ponies and their cross-breeds are well suited to the harsh conditions on moorlands.
It’s important that ponies can exhibit their natural herd behaviours, preferably with a mixed age of animals.
All ponies need access to drier areas for rest. This is particularly important for pregnant mares and foals.
Grazing purple moor-grass with cattle and ponies
Grazing purple moor-grass with cattle or ponies, or a combination of both, during the spring and early summer (usually between around mid-May and mid-July) can reduce species dominance. This is because the grassland is growing quickly and is most palatable.
You can choose to graze more heavily during the spring and summer. This can help to improve vegetation structure on areas dominated by purple moor-grass.
Updates to this page
Published 21 May 2024Last updated 5 August 2024 + show all updates
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Duration - 3 years instead of ‘same as base action’. Where you can do this action - if you apply for this supplemental action, you cannot apply for UPL5 or UPL6 on the same area. Eligibility of protected land - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. Available area - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. Rotational or static action - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. Other actions or options you can do on the same area - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. Added supplemental actions SPM4 and SPM5. Published voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements.
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First published.