Farmers are set for a Brexit dividend after ministers agree to foot the bill for vet visits 

Farmers will get free veterinarian visits as part of a Brexit dividend, the Environment Secretary will announce this week.

Annual check-ups for two to three hours will be paid for by the Government and will cover cattle, sheep and pigs. 

George Eustice told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Too often farmers only call a vet when there is a crisis, but with an annual vet visit to develop better animal health plans, they will see both animal welfare and their farm profitability improve.’

Annual check-ups for two to three hours will be paid for by the Government and will cover cattle, sheep and pigs

Farmers will be given cash payments to cover the visits for their herds at the following rates: £684 for pigs, £436 for sheep, £522 for beef cattle and £372 for dairy cattle per vet visit. They will then negotiate rates with the vet of their choice.

All results of the check-ups will be kept between the farmer and the vet and will not be shared with the Government.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs official said: ‘Outside the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the UK is designing a new, fairer farming system that works in the best interests of British farmers.’

The funding for check-ups will be available from next month and there are plans to eventually expand the scheme to other animals such as goats. 

George Eustice told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Too often farmers only call a vet when there is a crisis, but with an annual vet visit to develop better animal health plans, they will see both animal welfare and their farm profitability improve’

A Government source said this will mean ‘less disease and healthier cattle’ and help ‘level up’ farming for those who haven’t been able to afford regular vet check-ups.

Mr Eustice will unveil the plans at the National Farmers’ Union annual conference this week.

He is expected to tell the conference that he aims to ‘support livestock farmers in producing healthier, higher welfare animals, through financial assistance’. 

He will also point out the UK was the first country in the world to pass legislation to protect farm animals in 1822 with the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act.

The annual vet check-ups will offer testing, although the vets and farmers will decide how to prioritise their time in each case.

The assessments will focus on the health and welfare of the animals, including on the responsible use of medicines. Farmers will receive a report from the check-ups with recommended actions they could take.

The measures are part of this spring’s Animal Health and Welfare Review, aimed at helping farmers adapt to challenges including antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic disease outbreaks and biodiversity loss. Other measures include upgrading housing for dairy cattle which officials said would bring improvements in cow comfort and calf mortality.