{"id":18258,"date":"2025-04-28T09:03:31","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T09:03:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/?p=18258"},"modified":"2026-05-25T08:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T08:52:14","slug":"scottish-suckler-beef-support-scheme-ssbss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/blog\/scottish-suckler-beef-support-scheme-ssbss\/","title":{"rendered":"How Herdwatch Supports Scottish Farmers with the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Farmer Guide<\/div>\n\n

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS): how Herdwatch helps simplify submissions<\/h1>\n\n

\n The Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) provides valuable support for beef farmers rearing eligible suckler calves.\n Herdwatch helps make the process easier by identifying eligible animals, saving selected calves, and generating a CSV file ready for upload to ScotEID.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Scottish beef farming<\/span>\n SSBSS compliance<\/span>\n Herd management<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n 1<\/span>\n Identify calves that may qualify for SSBSS<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 2<\/span>\n Save eligible animals in the app<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 3<\/span>\n Generate a CSV file ready for ScotEID upload<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 4<\/span>\n Reduce errors with built-in eligibility checks<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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What is the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme?<\/h2>\n\n

\n The Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) helps ensure that beef farmers across Scotland receive support\n for rearing eligible suckler calves.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Identifying which animals qualify and preparing accurate submissions to ScotEID can take time,\n especially when managing a busy herd. Herdwatch helps simplify that process by bringing eligibility checks\n and record preparation into one place.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n \u201cHerdwatch helps farmers identify eligible calves and prepare submission-ready records for ScotEID in just a few taps.\u201d\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Take the hassle out of SSBSS submissions<\/h2>\n\n

\n Herdwatch includes an SSBSS record feature designed to help Scottish farmers determine which calves may qualify for the scheme.\n <\/p>\n\n

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  • View the eligibility status of calves born on the farm<\/li>\n
  • Select and save animals that meet the criteria<\/li>\n
  • Generate a CSV file of selected animals for upload to ScotEID<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n

    \n Please note:<\/strong> Herdwatch helps you identify eligible animals and generate the submission file,\n but you must still upload the file yourself through the ScotEID portal. Herdwatch does not track the actual submission\n or final eligibility approval.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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    Current eligibility criteria<\/h2>\n\n

    \n To qualify under the scheme, animals must meet the relevant eligibility requirements.\n <\/p>\n\n

    Eligible animals<\/h3>\n
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    • You must own or lease the animals<\/li>\n
    • Animals must be born on your Scottish holding and kept there continuously from birth for at least 30 days<\/li>\n
    • Animals must be born on or after 2 December 2024 for the relevant scheme year<\/li>\n
    • Animals must have a valid cattle passport and be registered with ScotEID<\/li>\n
    • You must not already have been paid for them under previous Scottish beef calf support schemes<\/li>\n
    • Animals must be correctly officially identified and tagged<\/li>\n
    • Animals must be at least 75% beef bred<\/li>\n
    • Calves must be the first offspring registered to the dam, or the registered offspring of cattle with a calving interval of 410 days or less<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n

      \n Annex A of the scheme rules lists non-eligible breeds.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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      Dual-purpose breeds<\/h2>\n\n

      \n Animals from dual-purpose breeds may only qualify if they are part of a suckler beef herd.\n Progeny from cows being used for milk production will not be eligible.\n <\/p>\n\n

      \n If you keep both dairy and suckler herds, you may need to demonstrate that the dam of the claimed calf\n is not part of the milking herd.\n <\/p>\n\n

      Breeds currently identified as dual-purpose include:<\/h3>\n
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      • Montbeliarde<\/li>\n
      • Meuse Rhine Issel<\/li>\n
      • Fleckvieh<\/li>\n
      • Fleckvieh Cross<\/li>\n
      • Blue Albion<\/li>\n
      • Blue Albion Cross<\/li>\n
      • Swedish Red Polled<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n
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        How does Herdwatch know who is eligible?<\/h2>\n\n

        \n For the 2025 scheme, Herdwatch shows calves born after 2 December 2024\n and uses predefined scheme criteria to indicate whether animals meet or fail certain conditions.\n <\/p>\n\n

        \n This makes it easier to manage your herd in line with SSBSS requirements and quickly identify animals that may need further review.\n <\/p>\n\n

        Icon indicators<\/h3>\n
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        • Orange Triangle<\/strong> \u2013 Not eligible: the animal does not meet one or more scheme criteria<\/li>\n
        • Blue Question Mark<\/strong> \u2013 Dual-purpose breed warning: the animal can still be submitted, but additional evidence may be required<\/li>\n
        • Blue Eye<\/strong> \u2013 Identification category: view the animal\u2019s ID type at a glance<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n
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          How to use the SSBSS feature in Herdwatch<\/h2>\n\n

          To create a record<\/h3>\n
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          • Open Herdwatch and tap the orange plus button on the home screen<\/li>\n
          • Select SSBSS<\/strong><\/li>\n
          • Choose your animals and press Save<\/strong><\/li>\n
          • Tap Run CSV of claimed animals<\/strong> to generate your submission file<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n