Fivemiletown cattle cull set to be debated in the Assembly in weeks
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley has called for all farmers to ensure their elected representatives are in touch with grassroot feeling as the culling of 51 cattle in Fivemiletown gets aired in the Assembly.
Following the controversial cull Jonathan Buckley tabled a motion of no confidence and called for Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to resign.
The issue has now been tabled for debate and will come to the floor in the next two weeks.
"So far we have 27 signatures, but are now calling for the SDLP and Sinn Fein to also sign this motion.
"We are calling on all farmers to reach out to their elected representatives so their message is heard”.
The controversial on-site cull of 51 cattle across three sites near Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone happened at the end of June, 2026.
It was carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) following a court order after the animal owner was convicted on animal welfare grounds and banned from keeping animals.
Immediately afterwards Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir defended the action as a last resort under a legal mandate, noting no reasonable alternative existed.
But hundreds of farmers protested at Stormont in August 2026 following witness accounts which described the shootings as distressing.
Minister Muir said he had suffered abuse and death threats over the incident.
"All the DUP have signed the motion, some UUP and the TUV have signed,” said Mr Buckley.
"Sinn Fein haven’t signed nor the SDLP.
"But this will be debated in the assembly within the next two weeks. I am giving every party the opportunity to sign the petition to express the will of their community.
"Farmers from nationalist/republican areas who wish to sign are not being represented”.
He added: “It will be an interesting debate because we know the rural farming community are totally fatigued with the minister.”