Grant or payment · Scotland
Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme (bull hire)
Hire of Scottish Government-owned bulls to groups of crofters who cannot practically keep their own bull or use AI.
- From
- Scottish Government / RPID
- How much
- Flat hire fee including VAT: £1,600.75 per bull wintered at Knocknagael, or £1,152.53 if the township winters the bull.
- Who can apply
- Groups of two or more crofters in the crofting areas (a single crofter may be considered if there is no alternative).
What you’ll need
- Application form and conditions of hire
- Group representative to pay the invoice
How to apply
- Get the form from the Rural Payments forms page or the Inverness Area Office
- Send it to the department; invoices usually go out in February or March
Guidance published 5 December 2024; no application deadline is listed.
Similar schemes
- Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2026 OpenScottish Government / RPID · Closes 14 January 2027Payment per eligible beef calf to help keep suckler herds in Scotland, with separate mainland and island rates.
- Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) 2026 OpenScottish Government / RPID · Closes 30 November 2026Flat-rate payment for each homebred ewe hogg kept on rough grazing farms that rely on Payment Region 3 land.
- Croft House Grant Open all yearScottish Government / RPIDGrants for crofters to build a new croft house, rebuild or improve one, or make it more energy efficient.
- Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) Open all yearScottish Government / RPIDCapital grants for crofters to build or improve agricultural buildings and other croft works, and to set up Common Grazings Committees.
Checked against the official pages on 29 October 2026. Sources: 1. Always read the official page before you apply.