Republika Srpska livestock subsidies: milk, heifers, sheep and goats

Republika Srpska supports livestock farming directly through the Pravilnik o uslovima i načinu ostvarivanja novčanih podsticaja za razvoj poljoprivrede i sela (Rulebook on conditions and manner of obtaining subsidies for agriculture and rural development). This article describes the 2026 version (Službeni glasnik RS 16/2026, 27/2026, 52/2026, 65/2026 and 80/2026). It concerns milk producers and breeders of cattle, sheep and goats, including farms in East Herzegovina. All amounts are "up to" amounts: the final rate is set by a decision of the Agency after the deadline and depends on the planned budget.

In short

• Milk premium: up to 0.30 KM per litre of cow milk and up to 0.80 KM per litre of sheep and goat milk, minimum 300 litres per month per producer. For 2026 the cow milk rate is 0.30 KM per litre.
• Premium per dairy cow: up to 500 KM per animal, plus 200 KM for farmers in municipalities above 1,000 m altitude. Claim by 31 August.
• Pregnant breeding heifers: up to 250 KM each, up to 500 KM for registered quality breeding heifers. Application by 30 September at the latest.
• Breeding sheep and goats: up to 70 KM per registered animal, up to 35 KM for others. Application by 30 September at the latest.
• The 2026 deadlines for per-animal premiums have passed (today is 6 October 2026); the milk premium is still claimed every month.

Who it applies to

Individuals, entrepreneurs and legal entities resident or based in Republika Srpska and entered in the Registar poljoprivrednih gazdinstava (RPG, Register of Agricultural Holdings) as commercial or non-commercial holdings (Art. 2).

Not eligible, among others: holdings with passive status in the RPG, family-holding heads who did not report contribution liability for 2025, and applicants who have not paid the 2025 hail-protection fee (Art. 5).

Conditions by measure:

• Milk (Art. 16): quality-tested milk, collected at registered collection points, from a holding with a valid certificate of mandatory animal health measures.
• Dairy cows (Art. 17): at least two dairy cows entered in the RPG, either in the milk collection system or with registered on-farm processing, and a calf born and tagged at a ratio of 0.7 per cow (at least 70% of cows in the herd).
• Heifers (Art. 8): at least two pregnant breeding heifers in lowland areas or one in hilly-mountainous areas, or at least three registered pregnant quality breeding heifers. The premium is paid only once per animal.
• Suckler cows (Art. 9): at least 12 quality breeding animals of pure beef breeds (up to 700 KM each) or at least seven of combined breeds, excluding Holstein crosses (up to 350 KM). Application by 30 September at the latest. It cannot be combined with the dairy cow premium for the same animals.
• Sheep and goats (Art. 11): a core flock of at least 50 sheep, or 30 sheep of noble breeds, or ten goats. The core flock means females that have given offspring plus breeding rams and bucks.

What to do

1. Check that your holding is in the RPG with active status, that 2025 contributions and the hail-protection fee are paid, and that animals are tagged in the Veterinary Information System of RS (VIS RS).
2. Get a valid certificate of mandatory health measures from an authorised veterinary organisation.
3. Milk: the producer does not apply. The buyer, dairy, cooperative or association that collects your milk files the claim by the 10th of the month for the previous month. Agree with them that you are included and that your health certificate is passed on.
4. Dairy cows: if you sell milk to a buyer or dairy, they file the claim on your behalf by 31 August (Art. 17). If you process milk on the farm, you apply yourself to the Agencija za agrarna plaćanja (Agency for Agrarian Payments), with the health certificate, the facility registration decision and proof of tagging from VIS RS.
5. Heifers: you apply yourself, on Form 3b of the rulebook annex, with the animal passport (Form D), a pregnancy certificate with insemination date and bull number, and the health-measures certificate. For the 500 KM tier you also need a breeding-organisation certificate and an ICAR productivity-control certificate.
6. Sheep and goats: you apply yourself, on Form 3, with copies of pedigree and passports, a notarised declaration that you will not sell the animals for at least one year, and the tagging certificate from VIS RS.
7. Keep your documents for at least three years (Art. 100).

Deadlines and amounts

• Milk: by the 10th of the month for the previous month. Yearly cap per beneficiary: 50,000 KM (non-commercial holdings), 250,000 KM (commercial), 650,000 KM (entrepreneurs and legal entities).
• Dairy cows: by 31 August. Cap 30,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 KM.
• Heifers: by 30 September. Cap 30,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 KM.
• Sheep and goats: by 30 September. Cap 50,000 / 100,000 / 200,000 KM.
• The Agency decides within 60 days after the application deadline (Art. 2).
• Milk payments lag behind production: on 18 September 2026 the Agency paid milk premiums for June and July to 5,137 beneficiaries.
• Deadlines for 2027 will be in that year's rulebook. Check with the Agency once it is published.

Livestock equipment, livestock businesses and purchase of a basic herd are supported under a separate 2026 capital investment rulebook (public call published 21 April 2026), which is not covered here.

Where to go

• Agencija za agrarna plaćanja Republike Srpske, Banja Luka, tel. 051/338-549, e-mail aaprs.info@mps.vladars.net. The page has the rulebook, forms and payment notices.
• Your veterinary organisation for health and tagging certificates, and the municipal agriculture department (Trebinje, Bileća, Gacko, Ljubinje, Nevesinje) for help with the RPG and forms.
• Ask the Agency whether your municipality qualifies for the extra 200 KM per dairy cow (above 1,000 m).

Laws and sources

• Agencija za agrarna plaćanja: rulebook, forms and notices
• Pravilnik o uslovima i načinu ostvarivanja novčanih podsticaja za razvoj poljoprivrede i sela, Službeni glasnik RS 16/2026, official gazette copy, Art. 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 16, 17, 100
• Amendments to the rulebook, Službeni glasnik RS 27/2026, official gazette copy; later amendments were published in Službeni glasnik RS 52/2026, 65/2026 and 80/2026