The Ulster Farmers’ Union has called for Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir, along with two senior Department of Agriculture officials, to resign following the shooting of 51 cattle in County Tyrone. The union says confidence in the department has been badly damaged and questions whether the external review into the cull is sufficiently independent.

The cattle were euthanised in June near Fivemiletown under a court order after their owner was convicted of animal welfare offences, prompting concern over how the operation was conducted near members of the public. Daera says an independent review is already under way and maintains the department is open to engagement, while the FDA union criticised the calls for officials’ resignations as inappropriate and premature.