Animal Health and Welfare Pathway: What UK Farmers Need to Know for 2026

If you've been putting off getting a funded vet visit through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, there's never been a better time to act. From 22 January 2026, payment rates increased by an average of 16% across all livestock types.

Here's everything you need to know about the scheme and how to make the most of it before the deadline.

What is the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway?

The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway is Defra's scheme to improve the health and welfare of livestock in England. It provides funding for an annual visit from a vet of your choice to look at your animals' health and welfare.

Think of it as a funded health check for your herd or flock. The vet carries out diagnostic testing, reviews biosecurity and medicine use, and gives you tailored advice on improvements you can make.

New Payment Rates for 2026

The increased rates from 22 January 2026 are:

These rates apply to both the initial Annual Health and Welfare Review and the Endemic Disease Follow-up visits.

What Happens During a Visit?

Annual Health and Welfare Review

During the review, your vet will:

• Carry out disease testing - For cattle, this includes testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). For sheep, it's testing the effectiveness of worming treatments.
• Review biosecurity - Looking at how disease enters and spreads on your farm
• Assess medicine use - Checking antibiotic and anthelmintic usage
• Provide tailored advice - Specific recommendations for your farm

The review typically takes 2-3 hours depending on your setup.

Endemic Disease Follow-up

After your initial review, you can access follow-up funding for more in-depth work:

• Cattle and pigs: More detailed disease testing based on your review results
• Sheep: Disease testing or condition assessments based on your farm's health priorities

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for funding, according to GOV.UK guidance, you must have:

• At least 11 cattle (beef or dairy)
• Or at least 21 sheep
• Or at least 51 pigs

You'll also need:

• A County Parish Holding (CPH) number registered in England
• To be registered with the Rural Payments service
• Animals registered on your CPH

Important: If you're a farmer-vet, you cannot conduct your own review.

Multiple Herds and Flocks

Good news for farmers with more than one group of animals. From June 2025, you can get a funded vet visit for each of your herds or flocks of the same species.

This means if you have beef cattle at two different locations, you can claim for two separate reviews.

Key Dates to Remember

The current scheme has some important deadlines:

• Service ends: 19 June 2027
• All visits must be completed by: 19 June 2027
• Claims must be submitted by: 19 September 2027

Don't leave it too late. Vet availability can be limited, especially during busy periods like lambing or calving.

How to Apply

Applying is straightforward and takes about 5 minutes:

1. Log in to the Rural Payments service
2. Apply for an Improve Animal Health and Welfare (IAHW) agreement
3. Receive confirmation of your agreement
4. Arrange a visit with your chosen vet
5. Complete the review and follow-up if applicable
6. Claim your payment through the Rural Payments service

You'll need your Rural Payments service customer reference number (CRN) and password.

If You Already Have an Agreement

If you're already enrolled in the scheme, you don't need to do anything. The RPA will contact you with a variation to your agreement's terms and conditions to reflect the new payment levels.

Making the Most of Your Visit

Here are some tips to get maximum value from your funded vet visit:

Before the visit:

• Gather your medicine records (antibiotics, wormers, vaccines)
• Note down any health concerns or patterns you've spotted
• Have your herd or flock records to hand
• Think about questions you want to ask

During the visit:

• Be honest about challenges you're facing
• Ask about specific issues you've noticed
• Discuss your goals for the herd/flock
• Take notes on recommendations

After the visit:

• Review the report and recommendations
• Create an action plan for improvements
• Consider the endemic disease follow-up for more detailed work
• Keep records of any changes you make

Why It Matters

Beyond the direct payment, there are real benefits to participating:

• Early disease detection - Catching BVD or other issues before they spread
• Reduced antibiotic use - Better targeted treatments
• Improved productivity - Healthier animals perform better
• Compliance evidence - Documented animal welfare for assurance schemes
• Future support - The Pathway may link to future Sustainable Farming Incentive options

Common Questions

Can I choose any vet?

Yes, you can use any vet registered in England. It doesn't have to be your usual practice.

What if I have both cattle and sheep?

You can apply for reviews for each species separately and receive funding for both.

Do I need to prepare anything specific?

Having your medicine records and any existing health data ready will help your vet make the most of the visit.

How long does the visit take?

Typically 2-3 hours, depending on the size of your operation and the depth of discussion.

The Bottom Line

With payment rates up 16% and a clear deadline of June 2027, now is the time to take advantage of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. A funded health check for your herd or flock, with tailored advice from a vet of your choice, is too good an opportunity to miss.

The scheme is designed to help you improve animal health while meeting the growing expectations around welfare standards. Whether you're already enrolled or thinking about applying, make sure your visits are booked well ahead of the deadline.

Sources

• Increased payments for vet visits - Defra Farming Blog
• Animal Health and Welfare Pathway - GOV.UK
• Apply for funding to improve animal health and welfare - GOV.UK
• Multiple herds and flocks now eligible for vet visit funding - Defra Farming Blog
• Farmers to access new funds through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway - AHDB