Reduced Government Grants

MAJOR SLASH IN THE GRANTS FOR PURE BRED BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATIONS 

 Spain’s Secretary of State for Rural and Water Resources, dependant upon the Ministry of Agriculture MARM has published the Resolution from the 2011 summons for grants dedicated to breeder organizations and associations for the preservation, selection and promotion of pure animal breeds  A total of 75 million euros has been approved  This is considerably inferior to the amount for 2010  These funds will be distributed among 56 cattle, sheep, goat, swine and equine livestock associations  The grants contemplate funds for five specific concepts: Education, training, promotion and outreach, Breeder Competitions, Stud Books, Performance and livestock quality and Centers and facilities  In the equine sector, there are ten associations included in the Resolution that will receive grants for a total of 1,337,719 euros  ANCCE will receive 384,000 euros, the lowest figure in the last 5 years These funds will be dedicated to the Purebred Spanish Horse Stud Book and for the improvement of the breed  In short, 86000 euros have been assigned to the Stud Book, which implies less than 5 euros of aid per horse registered This ratio is far from what other breeds receive, with ratios exceeding 200 euros per registered horse A major allotment will be used in the Breeding Program, one of ANCCE’s priority objectives  The Resolution, dated the 26^th of July, rejects the application for a grant made by the Union of Spanish Horse Breeders UCCE, “this being a body that is not recognized by the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs and therefore fails to fulfill the requirement established in article 2 of the Order APA/3181/2007, dated the 30^th of October”                         

Alexander Zilo