The Ulster Farmers’ Union has demanded the resignation of Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir following the department’s handling of a cattle cull operation in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone. The controversy centers on the destruction of 51 animals on 29 and 30 June after their owner was disqualified from keeping livestock following convictions for animal welfare offenses. The farmer had been given a court-ordered deadline to remove the animals from his ownership but did not comply, prompting the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to conduct the cull using its humane slaughter team.
The UFU has stated its call for Muir’s resignation is not motivated by personal animosity but rather by objections to the minister’s decision to appoint a single individual to review the cull’s circumstances. The union argued for an independent panel of experts to examine whether all alternatives were properly considered before the animals were killed. Some members of the public were present during portions of the operation, which caused distress as the shootings took place within public earshot.
Minister Muir has defended the decision and rejected calls for his resignation, stating that the department had no alternative but to proceed with the cull and that he ordered an external independent review to provide clarity. He also asserted that his government is no longer beholden to vested interests in agriculture. The review will be conducted by Dr Martin Blake, a former Chief Veterinary Officer for Ireland, with findings expected by early autumn.
Alliance party officials have countered that the UFU’s resignation demand reflects political motivation rather than genuine animal welfare concerns, given that the call came before the review was completed. UFU President John McLenaghan rejected this characterization, emphasizing the organization’s 120-year history of working with successive governments and various authorities. He maintained that the union’s concern is substantive and relates to ensuring a thorough examination of the legal processes, animal welfare considerations, and farmer welfare implications surrounding the cull.
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