Animal Health and Welfare Pathway payment increases

Update to reflect payment increases effective 22 January 2026.

Funding through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP) aims to improve animal health and welfare, boost productivity, strengthen food security, protect public health, uphold UK trade, and support environmental goals.

The Pathway is a long‑term partnership co‑designed with industry and government, covering cattle (beef and dairy), sheep, pigs and poultry. The first of four steps were launched in February 2023 offering a fully funded vet visit.

Since February 2023, eligible farmers have been able to receive a fully funded, annual on‑farm vet visit, now available to all farmers in England who have:

• 11+ beef cattle
• 11+ dairy cattle
• 21+ sheep
• 51+ pigs

The Review will fulfil the requirements for obtaining a Vet Attestation Number (VAN), should your abattoir or processor exports products of animal to the EU and require this. The VAN process replaces the previous temporary farmer declaration.

Defra announced an average 16% increase in payments across all species to reflect inflation and ensure vets can deliver a high‑quality, thorough service.

Table 1. Annual health and welfare review payment rates

*From 19 June 2024, and in response to feedback, the PRRS disease testing component of the Annual Health and Welfare Review for pigs was changed from blood sampling to oral sampling.

This provides better pig welfare, is easier for vets and farmers to carry out, and is more cost effective.

Future changes may include allowing more than one review per year for farms with:

• Multiple species
• Multiple herds or flocks of the same species
• The Government has already begun expanding access to multi‑herd and multi‑flock options under AHWP

Since March 2023, farmers have been able to apply for capital grants supporting AHWP priorities. Farmers work with their vet to select investments that deliver greatest health and welfare benefit.

Two grant types:

• Small grants – equipment and technology
• Large grants – new housing, upgrades and pasture improvements

Further details are available on the Government Farming Investment Fund webpages, with updates provided through Defra’s farming blog.

Since 19 June 2024, farmers who have completed an Annual Review can access additional funding for endemic disease control.

Table 2. Updated follow‑up payment rates from 22 January 2026

You may complete up to three Annual Reviews and three follow ups if you meet the following conditions:

• Follow‑up completed within 10 months of the Review
• 10 months between follow‑ups
• Review claim must be approved before claiming the follow up

Payment-by-results will reward farmers who demonstrate high health and welfare outcomes in herds and flocks.

Cattle vet Jonathan Statham, who has worked with the team developing the Pathway said:

“The Pathway is all about the farmer’s own vet working with the farmer on an individual farm basis. So, if you are sheep, cattle, pigs or mixed, if you are farm assured, if you are non-farm assured, we will have a format that covers your farm’s needs.”

The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway forms part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) supporting:

• Sustainable food production founded on high welfare
• Disease prevention
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Reduced GHG emissions