The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said an "independent review must be carried out as a matter of urgency" after 51 cattle were shot during an operation in Co. Tyrone.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed that an operation was conducted "on June 29, 2026 at a farm near Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone, to execute a Court Deprivation Order on a herd belonging to a disqualified keeper, in respect of animal welfare offences".

According to DAERA the operation in Tyrone had been "planned in advance and the methodology selected was considered the most appropriate in the circumstances".

Concerns

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said he fully appreciates the concerns expressed following the euthanasia of cattle near Fivemiletown.

"I want to reassure everyone that I and my chief veterinary officer take those concerns very seriously," Minister Muir said.

"To provide assurance and ensure that the circumstances and context in which the actions of veterinary staff took place is more fully understood and any lessons for the future identified, I have now determined that this review must be taken forward by someone outside the department.

"We will very shortly publish the terms of reference and, once the review has been completed, will also make public the findings and recommendations and share these with the assembly."

Following a meeting with Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer Brian Dooher, the UFU said it had conveyed the "considerable anger, distress and concern" being expressed by farmers across Northern Ireland following the operation.

The UFU said the external review must be carried out as a "matter of urgency".

'Distressing'

UFU president John McLenaghan said the "images and accounts that have emerged from this incident have been deeply distressing", and have raised "serious questions".

"The destruction of livestock must always be conducted humanely, justified, professionally and in a controlled manner," McLenaghan said.

“During our meeting, we made clear the depth of anger among our membership."

The UFU said a "full and factual explanation" from DAERA is needed.

'Transparent'

The UFU said the external review that is due to take place into the incident "must be transparent, thorough and completed within a clear and timely timeframe".

"It must be capable of examining both the decisions taken beforehand and the conduct of the operation on the ground," the UFU said.

"The review must establish the complete facts, consider the evidence of those who witnessed the incident and identify whether there were failures in planning, animal handling, veterinary oversight or operational control.  

"It must also be conducted without unnecessary delay.

"With this we understand certain information will not be available to us until the independent review is completed."

McLenaghan added that the farming industry takes animal welfare "extremely seriously, and farmers work every day to maintain high standards of care for their livestock".

"Incidents and images of this nature risk damaging public confidence and creating a deeply misleading impression of an industry that has much to be proud of," he said.

External review

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA, Deborah Erskine said she welcomes that an external review will be carried out into the operation.

She said farmers, local residents and members of the public "deserve full answers, and this review must establish exactly what happened and who was responsible".

"I will be watching the terms of reference for this review very carefully. There are far too many unanswered questions," the MLA added.

Sinn Féin councillor, Eugene McConnell said he welcomed that "these events are now being reviewed and I believe there must be full transparency around its findings".

"Any lessons identified must result in changes to ensure that an incident like this is never handled in the same way again," he said.