Reactor value, pedigree cow
Up to €5,500
All four are run by the Department of Agriculture through your Regional Veterinary Office (RVO). The figures below are from the Department's TB Compensation Booklet of October 2026.
Quick facts
- Reactor value, pedigree cow
- Up to €5,500
- Reactor value, other animals
- Up to €3,500
- Hardship Grant
- Up to €300 a herd a month
- Hardship Grant months
- 1 November to 30 April, up to 4 months
- Income Supplement trigger
- 9.5% of the herd lost in one breakdown
On Farm Market Valuation
"The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme (OFMV) is the main compensation scheme available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown in their herd." An independent valuer, chosen from a list your RVO gives you, values each reactor.
| Animal | Ceiling |
|---|---|
| Pedigree cows and pedigree in-calf heifers | €5,500 |
| Up to three pedigree stock bulls in one breakdown | €5,500 |
| Any other bovine animal | €3,500 |
You accept or reject the valuation on the V8 form, which you can sign on agfood.ie. Check the values on the V13 form before you sign. If you disagree, you can appeal, and then go to arbitration.
Income Supplement
"Income Supplement is a targeted scheme which assists farmers who lose 9.5% or more of their herd to disease due to a single TB breakdown." It is paid monthly for each reactor, for up to 12 months. "It is payable up to a maximum of 199 reactors."
| Animal | Rate 1 | Rate 2 | Rate 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cow | €100 (months 1 to 5 after calving) | €65 (months 6 to 10) | €0 (months 11 to 12) |
| Suckler cow | €52 (months 1 to 7) | €40 (months 8 to 12) | |
| Other animals | €30 |
It is reduced in line with any animals you move in, and stops if the herd is fully depopulated.
Hardship Grant: 1 November to 30 April
This helps herds that have to keep and feed extra animals over the winter because a restriction stops them selling. "Herds are only eligible if they have more animals as a result of restriction compared to same date in previous year."
| Animal | A month |
|---|---|
| Suckler cow | €50 |
| Dairy cow | €30 |
| Other bovine | €30 |
"Payments are subject to a maximum payment of €300 per herd per month." They are paid for up to 4 months between 1 November and 30 April. "No application is required, RVOs issue payments to eligible herdowners." Buying in animals during the restriction, other than permitted replacements, makes a herd ineligible.
Depopulation Grant
If the Department decides your herd should be fully or partly cleared, a grant is paid for each animal removed. The land must then stay free of stock for the agreed rest period.
| Herd | Animal | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy herd | Cows, in-calf heifers, pedigree bulls over 12 months | €280 |
| Suckler herd | Cows, in-calf heifers, pedigree bulls over 12 months | €180 |
| Any herd | All other animals | €120 |
These are the maximums for a 4-month rest period, and shorter rests are paid pro rata. "Controlled Finishing Units, previously referred to as Feedlot Herds, are not eligible for these schemes."
How to claim
Return the ER26X form straight away, online or by post: it applies for OFMV and, where they apply, the Income Supplement and Hardship Grant. Your Regional Veterinary Office handles every payment, so contact them with any question.
Common questions
How much is TB compensation per cow?
Up to €5,500 for a pedigree cow or in-calf heifer and up to €3,500 for other animals, at market value set by an independent valuer.
When is the TB Hardship Grant paid?
For up to 4 months between 1 November and 30 April, at up to €300 a herd a month. There is no application: the RVO pays eligible herds.
Who gets the TB Income Supplement?
Herds that lose 9.5% or more of their animals in one TB breakdown, paid monthly per reactor for up to 12 months.