SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) (updated for SFI26)

This is a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 ( SFI26 ) supplemental action. Read the SFI26 scheme information to understand what you’re required to do under an SFI26 agreement and how to apply.

Select ‘See all updates’ at the start of this page to find out how this supplemental action has changed for SFI26 compared with SFI24 .

For SFI24 actions, read the  SFI24 agreement holder’s information .

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£11 per hectare ( ha ) per year

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that more than 80% of grazing livestock units ( GLU ) on moorland or lowland heathland habitats are either:

pedigree rare native breeds

heritage semi-feral breeds

The purpose of this is to maintain or increase the number of rare native breed or heritage semi-feral breed grazing livestock.

Where you can do this action

You can do this supplemental action on eligible land that you’re grazing with livestock, which you enter into one of the following SFI26 base actions:

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland

UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland

UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland

UPL8: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months)

UPL10: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months)

SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics

OFM3: Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing

You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected SFI base action.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same as your selected base action.

Rotational or static action

This is the same as your selected base action.

What to do

During each grazing season, more than 80% of total GLU on land entered into the relevant base action must be in the ‘at risk’ category on the UK native breeds support ( NBS ) list . The livestock must also be either:

pedigree rare native breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised pedigree breeding book

heritage semi-feral breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised breeding book

Where relevant, the stocking density (total GLU ) on land entered into this action must be as required in the applicable base action.

To convert livestock numbers into GLU , you must use the following values:

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0  GLU

Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6  GLU

Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU

Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU

Goat – 0.12 GLU

Pony or donkey – 0.8  GLU

Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

Read the ‘advice to help you do this action’ to find out how to calculate the livestock density.

You must produce the following written records (which can be paper-based or electronic):

a monthly record of grazing animals at the parcel level

unique individual animal movement identification numbers for each eligible animal

changes to the original documentation since the action’s start date, such as replacement animals

the unique individual permanent breed identification numbers for each eligible animal – either the pedigree registration number or birth notification number

breed registration records and proof of animal provenance, parentage and availability for each animal

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’

do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written records and supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme Action or option codes

SFI 2026 actions Same as your selected SFI26 base action

SFI 2024 actions Same as your selected SFI26 base action

SFI 2023 actions Same as your selected SFI26 base action

CSHT actions from 2025 Same as your selected SFI26 base action

CS options Same as your selected SFI26 base action

ES options Same as your selected SFI26 base action

If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’  in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for one of the following other supplemental actions in the same SFI26 application as this supplemental action:

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU )

UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU )

Advice to help you do this action

The following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

How to calculate your native breed percentage

Once you’ve converted your livestock numbers into  GLU  using the values shown under ‘What to do’, you can use the  native breeds grazing calculator  to calculate your native breed percentage.

Native breeds

This action explains which native breeds are eligible (under ‘What to do’).

If you’re sourcing native breed animals, try to choose animals which have been bred and reared on a similar habitat to where you’ll be grazing them.

If you have not used native rare breeds before you can get help from graziers or livestock conservation organisations like the  Rare Breeds Survival Trust .

You may find it helpful to read the  Grazing Animals Project Breed Profiles Handbook .

Grazing the habitat

Cattle, sheep, and ponies graze in different ways.

You can achieve greater environmental benefits if you graze with:

a livestock species which has suitable grazing traits for the habitat type

a suitable number of livestock for the habitat type

You can choose to mix livestock to create a more varied habitat.

Using an unsuitable livestock species or level of grazing (overgrazing or under grazing) can:

damage the habitat

increase surface water run-off

damage historic or archaeological features, where present

Grazing traits: ponies

Ponies:

can graze swards very tight, and at low stocking densities can create a good structural mosaic

have a strong preference for grasses and will graze long coarse grass, such as purple moor-grass

are very adaptable grazers, and can graze bracken (particularly in the autumn) and gorse

are less likely to graze heather over the winter months compared with sheep

Grazing traits: cattle

Cattle:

graze on longer swards, and graze less selectively than sheep and on coarser forage, creating a more varied sward structure

will graze lower quality forage such as purple moor-grass, particularly in the spring and early summer

Cattle are more likely to cause poaching due to their size, particularly on wetter areas. You can remove them from the area over the winter months to reduce the risk of poaching.

Grazing traits: sheep

Sheep:

can graze swards very tight

are highly selective feeders at fine scale, often selecting young flowers and shoots

are unlikely to eat long coarse grasses, such as purple moor-grass, if alternative food is available

can lead to a decline in dwarf shrub cover due to their selective browsing of these, particularly if they’re grazing over the winter months

Sheep can cause a decline in dwarf shrub cover due to selective browsing, particularly when out over the winter months. You can reduce the risk of this happening by:

removing all the sheep for the entire winter or part of the winter (‘partial off-wintering’)

reducing sheep numbers during the winter months

Neighbouring livestock

If the area of land you enter into this action is unfenced and adjacent land is grazed by other farmers or land managers, you may need to:

consider the potential impact of neighbouring livestock straying on your ability to meet this action’s requirements

talk to neighbouring farmers or land managers about removing stray livestock from your area of land

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.