Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £50,000 (research and education grants)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Devon and Cornwall, but operates nationally across England, Wales, and Scotland
• Total Income: £217,771 (year ending March 2024)

Contact Details

General Enquiries:

• Website: www.dcbt.co.uk
• Email: admin@dartingtoncbt.co.uk
• Phone: 07474 832493
• Address: Hazard Farm, Harberton, Totnes, TQ9 7LN

Administrative Contact:

• Lizzie Luckes (Trust Manager) - admin@dartingtoncbt.co.uk

Overview

Established in 1944 as the Dartington Hall Cattle Breeding Centre and registered as a charitable trust in 1948, the Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust (DCBT) has a rich history in livestock development. Originally focused on South Devon cattle breed development and artificial insemination services, the Trust sold its AI business to Genus Breeding plc in 2004 and has since concentrated on its grant-making mission. With approximately £2.5 million invested in shares by 2011 and annual income of £217,771 (2024), DCBT awards up to £50,000 annually in grants towards research and education. The Trust's mission is “to improve the quality and health of livestock in Great Britain for the benefit of the public” through furthering research, supporting new entrants to livestock farming, and promoting education in livestock breeding, animal husbandry, and related subjects. Governed by seven trustees who meet quarterly, DCBT has supported 26 Nuffield Scholars since 1992 and maintains a strong focus on Devon and Cornwall while operating nationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Educational Bursaries: £1,000 - £4,000 (lifetime maximum per student)

• Annual awards for degree-level (or higher) students from Devon and Cornwall
• Studying livestock breeding, husbandry, and welfare courses at UK universities
• Not available for industrial placement years
• Application deadline: 31 October annually
• Apply via online form on website

Capital Grant Scheme: Up to £10,000 (maximum 50% of project costs)

• Competitive awards for young farmers and new entrants in Devon and Cornwall
• Must relate to livestock production capital expenditure
• Must be used primarily to generate income or reduce costs
• Requires pre-application meeting with a Trustee
• Awards lapse if not claimed within 12 months
• Rolling application process

Nuffield Farming Scholarships: Sponsorship amount not specified

• Trust sponsors one Nuffield Scholarship per annum
• Preference given to applicants from the West of England
• Apply through Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust

Research Grants: Amount varies by project

• Contact Trust Manager to discuss research proposals
• Must align with Trust's objectives
• Recent projects include heifer lameness research (Royal Veterinary College) and Jersey milk in cheese production (University of Reading)

Additional Support:

• Devon YFC Travel Programme
• Farmwise Devon sponsorship
• Farm & Country Day Cornwall support
• Cattle Lameness Conference & Foot Health Day

Priority Areas

• New entrants to livestock farming in Devon and Cornwall
• Education and training in livestock breeding, animal husbandry, and welfare
• Research into livestock quality, health, and welfare
• Young farmers developing their livestock enterprises
• Vocational training and professional development in the livestock sector
• Innovation in livestock production methods

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not explicitly stated on the Trust's website, but:

• Educational bursaries are limited to students from Devon and Cornwall
• Capital grants prioritize farmers in Devon and Cornwall
• Industrial placement years are not eligible for educational bursaries
• Projects must relate to livestock production

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (7 members):

• John Anning (Chairman)
• Richard Sibley (Vice-Chairman)
• Peter Smerdon
• Rachel Knowles
• Elizabeth Priest
• Angus Cottey
• Mike Roberts

Administrative Support:

• Lizzie Luckes (Trust Manager)

The Board meets quarterly to review applications and make funding decisions. Trustees receive no remuneration for their service. The Trust maintains comprehensive policies on financial controls, risk management, safeguarding, and conflicts of interest, consistently submitting annual returns and accounts on time to the Charity Commission.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Educational Bursaries:

• Apply via online form available on dcbt.co.uk
• First-time applicants require completed application form with references
• Subsequent annual applications require completed form without references (if eligibility criteria continue to be met)
• Application deadline: 31 October annually
• Currently open for Diploma Level students; degree-level applications may have different timelines

Capital Grant Scheme:

• Complete approved application form available on website
• Mandatory requirement: Meet with a Trustee before submission
• Submit completed application for competitive assessment by Board of Trustees
• Rolling application basis (no fixed deadline specified)

Research Grants:

• Contact Lizzie Luckes at admin@dartingtoncbt.co.uk to discuss proposals
• Proposals must align with Trust's objectives
• No formal application form specified

Nuffield Scholarships:

• Apply through Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust
• Indicate DCBT as preferred sponsor (preference given to West of England applicants)

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified on the Trust's website. Given that trustees meet quarterly, applicants should expect decisions to align with these quarterly meeting schedules. Awards for educational bursaries and capital grants are made at the sole discretion of trustees.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Trust notes that educational bursaries are awarded “on merit” and take into account “the educational level of the course being studied and number of applications received in each year.” A “limited number of bursaries are available for suitable students,” indicating competitive selection.

Reapplication Policy

Educational Bursaries: Students may apply annually as long as eligibility criteria continue to be met, up to the lifetime maximum of £4,000.

Capital Grant Scheme: No specific reapplication policy is stated. However, the competitive nature and trustee discretion suggest unsuccessful applicants could reapply with improved proposals.

General Note: The Trust states that “awards are made at the sole discretion of Trustees; whose decision is final,” but does not explicitly prohibit reapplication.

Application Success Factors

While DCBT does not publish detailed guidance on what makes applications stand out, the following factors can be inferred from their stated priorities and program design:

For Educational Bursaries:

• Clear intention to work directly in livestock production or supporting professions
• Strong connection to Devon and Cornwall (residency requirement)
• Enrollment in recognized UK degree-level courses involving livestock breeding, husbandry, and welfare
• Demonstrated merit and academic performance
• Quality references (required for first-time applicants)

For Capital Grant Scheme:

• Status as a “young farmer” or “new entrant” (priority given)
• Location in Devon or Cornwall
• Project must “primarily generate income or reduce costs”
• Clear business progression in the livestock sector
• Willingness to meet with a Trustee before applying (demonstrates commitment and allows for guidance)
• Well-defined project with clear budget and outcomes

For Research Proposals:

• Strong alignment with the Trust's mission: improving quality and health of livestock in Great Britain
• Practical application and benefit to the livestock farming community
• Collaboration with recognized research institutions (recent projects with Royal Veterinary College and University of Reading)
• Focus on livestock health, welfare, breeding, or production innovation

General Success Factors:

• Connection to Devon and Cornwall region
• Focus on livestock (not general agriculture)
• Clear public benefit outcomes
• Support for new entrants and young farmers
• Innovation and quality improvement in livestock farming

The Trust emphasizes that "the Trustees' decision is final," highlighting the importance of submitting well-prepared applications that clearly align with stated objectives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic priority is clear: While the Trust operates nationally, strong preference is given to Devon and Cornwall applicants, particularly for educational bursaries and capital grants
• New entrants are prioritized: Young farmers and those new to livestock farming receive priority consideration for capital grants
• Pre-application engagement matters: Capital grant applicants must meet with a Trustee before submission—use this as an opportunity to refine your proposal
• Livestock focus is non-negotiable: All programs must relate to livestock breeding, husbandry, welfare, or production—general agriculture projects are outside scope
• Trustee discretion is absolute: Awards are made at sole discretion of trustees whose decision is final; ensure applications are compelling and well-aligned with stated objectives
• Multiple funding streams available: Explore whether educational bursaries, capital grants, research funding, or indirect support (Devon YFC, Farmwise) best fits your needs
• Long-term relationship building: With 26 Nuffield Scholars supported since 1992 and ongoing research partnerships, DCBT values sustained engagement with the livestock farming community

References

1. Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust official website - www.dcbt.co.uk
2. “About DCBT” - https://dcbt.co.uk/about
3. “Educational Bursaries” - https://dcbt.co.uk/grant%20funding/educational%20bursaries
4. “Capital Grant Scheme” - https://dcbt.co.uk/grant%20funding/capital%20grant%20scheme
5. “Research” - https://dcbt.co.uk/grant%20funding/research
6. UK Charity Commission Register - “Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust (201135)” - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/201135/full-print
7. AgriFood Charities Partnership - “Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust” - https://afcp.org.uk/organisation/dartington-cattle-breeding-trust/
8. Nuffield Farming Scholarships - “Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust” - https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/sponsors/our-sponsors/dartington-cattle-breeding-trust