Numnuts® & the Future Farming Investment Scheme 2025
August 14, 2025
Did you know that farmers can purchase Numnuts® through the Future Farming Investment Scheme 2025?
What is the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) 2025?
The Scottish Government’s Future Farming Investment Scheme
(FFIS) 2025 is a £14m “capital grant scheme designed to help eligible active farmers and crofters improve the environmental performance of their agricultural business”.
The scheme opens on 14th July and closes on 22nd August 2025.
FFIS will provide grants of up to £20,000 to help farmers invest in agricultural equipment that can improve business efficiency and sustainability – this includes Numnuts® devices and accessories.
Grants will be awarded to farmers and crofters in Scotland, dependent on them being able to effectively demonstrate that their purchase(s) can meet at least one of these objectives:
- improve business efficiency and sustainability
- protect, restore or enhance the environment
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- mitigate the effect of climate change
Funding can cover up to 100% of eligible investment costs. Find out more about the scheme here
View the FFIS Guidance here
Why does this matter to farm vets and where does Numnuts® come in?
By purchasing through MerlinVet UK via the link below, you can buy a Numnuts® device at the veterinary purchase price of £300 and sell to farmers at the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of £410 + VAT. Farmers should purchase at the RRP to be eligible with their application and include this purchase price in their application to be successful.
Let your farm clients in Scotland know about the grant so they can receive equipment to aid their business. If you’re looking for products to suggest to farmers, then look no further than Numnuts® – the FFIS grant will pay farmers up to 100% of castration and tail docking devices, as outlined in the A-Z list of eligible items below. Farmers are able to choose items that are relevant to their business – we’d suggest a Numnuts® device and ring dispenser.
Anything else you should know?
Let farmers know that they should only purchase their Numnuts device and other farming equipment after their grant application has been approved. They will have nine months to make any purchases upon receiving grant approval.
Why should you recommend Numnuts®?
If you are looking at castration and tail docking devices that minimise pain, as outlined on the A-Z of eligible items, and that adhere to the objective of improving business efficiency and sustainability for farmers, look no further than Numnuts®.
Farmers should be prepared for next lambing season with the 2-in-1 device that administers an Elastrator® ring along with a pre-calibrated dose of local anaesthetic. This device makes giving fast-acting targeted pain relief for castration and tail docking of lambs easy, fast, and safe.
Benefits of Numnuts® include:
- Revolutionary patented device combines tail docking and castration with targeted pain relief, all in one handled unit
- Reduce labour time/cost
- Dual Stage Injector technology prevents accidental injections
- Easy priming
- Accurate Dosing
- No weighing or weight estimation required – simple one dose amount for all lamb sizes, for both tail & testes
- Needle Safe
- Simple needle changeover
In 2025, the Scottish Government confirmed that farmers in Scotland can legally use Numnuts® for castrating or tail docking lambs up to 12 weeks old, provided an anaesthetic is administered. This clarification brings significant relief to Scottish farmers and veterinarians seeking reassurance on the legality of using Numnuts®, which minimises the pain and distress associated with traditional rubber ringing procedures. Numnuts® adheres to animal welfare standards and provides a compassionate alternative to older methods.
You are able to purchase Numnuts here.
If farmers are looking to speed up their tail docking and castration next lambing season, make reloading rings onto the Numnuts® device easy with the Elastrator® Automatic Ring Dispenser. Pour your rings into the top of the dispenser and let it do the work of arranging the rings, ready to quickly and easily pick up, letting you carry on with marking with less fuss. You can purchase the ring dispenser here.
Any Questions?
Email Dougal
for more information and advice.
Download our information pack to send to your farm clients here
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