NEWS

James Orr discusses genotyping with Senior CAFRE Beef and Sheep Adviser Rachel Megarrell. A Co Antrim father and son are using genetic testing to take some of the guesswork out of breeding decisions on their family farm — uncovering differences within their cattle that cannot necessarily be spotted simply by looking at them. James Orr farms alongside his father William near Ballintoy, where the family runs a suckler herd of around 100 cows, mainly Limousin-Simmental crosses a

Albert and William Wallace discuss genotyping with CAFRE Dairy Adviser, Luke Murray. A Tobermore farming family whose dairy herd ranks among Northern Ireland’s highest-performing producers is highlighting how genetic testing can help farmers make more informed breeding decisions, ahead of a major government-backed genotyping scheme opening on Tuesday. Albert Wallace and his son William, who farm just outside Tobermore, have been using genotyping for six years to identify the

An Antrim couple have been handed suspended prison sentences and banned from keeping animals for five years after a severely malnourished dog was found living in filthy conditions without access to water. Jason Gallagher and Aleshia McLaverty, both of Islandbawn Drive, Antrim, were sentenced at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 26 August after pleading guilty to separate offences relating to the welfare of a terrier-cross dog. Gallagher pleaded guilty to failing to ensur

Dog owners across Antrim and Newtownabbey are being urged to check the rules before exercising their pets in council-managed parks and open spaces, as new colour-coded signage is installed across the borough. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is carrying out the work in phases, with priority locations being targeted first. The signs are designed to make it clearer where dogs can be exercised freely, where they must be kept on a lead and where they are prohibited — with

Police have said all calls received before two dogs were found dead at a Lurgan property were “thoroughly followed up”, as agencies came together to examine what happened and address questions over whether earlier intervention was possible. The PSNI made the statement following a multi-agency meeting in Lurgan on Monday morning, 24 August, attended by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Arbour Housing and local political representatives. It follows significa

The new Paws & Pals collection from M&S M&S has expanded its food aisles to four-legged family members with the launch of a new own-brand range of food, meal toppers and treats for adult dogs and cats. The new Paws & Pals collection is available in M&S Foodhalls now, with prices ranging from £3 for treats to £14 for bags of dry food. The launch brings 13 new products to shelves alongside 10 existing favourites being rebranded under Paws & Pals, as the retailer targets growing

DUP Agriculture Spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP Serious whistleblowing allegations involving animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental practices at Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) should be subjected to a genuinely independent examination, a DUP MP has said. Upper Bann MP and DUP Agriculture spokesperson Carla Lockhart has questioned whether investigations into concerns at AFBI’s Hillsborough site can command public confidence when the organis

Northern Ireland has no identified link to a rare case of classical BSE — commonly known as mad cow disease — confirmed on a farm in Scotland, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said. The case was discovered on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway and identified through routine BSE surveillance. Movement restrictions have now been put in place while investigations continue to establish the origin of the case. Importantly, the affected animal did not enter the human food chain, a

Northern Ireland livestock farmers are being urged to remain vigilant for signs of bluetongue as cases of the disease rise sharply across Great Britain, with nearly 500 now confirmed and vaccine supplies coming under pressure. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has warned that an increase in cases in Northern Ireland could have serious consequences for livestock movements, farm businesses and the wider agricultural supply chain. Nearly 1,000 individual animals have been infected

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart Serious questions are being raised over whether opportunities to intervene were missed before two dogs were found dead inside a property in Lurgan. Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has secured an urgent meeting involving police, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Arbour Housing after saying local residents had raised concerns about the Sloanhill Court property before the animals were discovered. A 47-year-old man has been arrest

Pictured: DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart and Ulster Unionist agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA, and the farmers protest earlier this week outside Stormont. Friday 14 August 2026 Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has rejected demands for his resignation and launched an extraordinary attack on the Ulster Farmers’ Union, declaring that its days of “dictating government policy are over”. His defiant response came after the UFU passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Muir,

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir The Ulster Farmers’ Union has declared that Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir and DAERA’s two most senior officials have lost the confidence of farmers—and demanded all three resign immediately. In a major escalation of the fallout from the Fivemiletown cattle operation, Northern Ireland’s largest farming organisation extended its vote of no confidence beyond the Department to Mr Muir, Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Of

The newly published terms of an independent review into DAERA’s controversial Fivemiletown cattle operation have come under immediate scrutiny over the reviewer’s powers, how the process was established and whether one reviewer is enough to command confidence. Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir published the detailed remit on Wednesday, 12 August, appointing former Irish Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Martin Blake to examine DAERA’s planning, decision-making and implementation of

Cattle that were shot by DAERA official lying in a County Fermanagh field; inset, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir Former Irish Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Martin Blake will independently examine DAERA’s planning, decision-making and handling of the controversial operation which saw 51 cattle destroyed near Fivemiletown in June. Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has published the terms of reference for an independent external review into his department’s implementation of a court De

Emma’s daughter Mya sharing hugs with Jimmy A Cullybackey mum whose children have been left heartbroken after their beloved young cat was killed by a snare is calling for all snares to be banned in Northern Ireland — saying she was shocked to discover that the devices are not completely outlawed here. Jimmy was less than a year old when he was discovered caught in a snare and hanging helplessly from a tree on Saturday, 8 August. His family rushed him to a vet, but nothing cou

TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister KC, and UFU president John McLenaghan Pressure on DAERA over the euthanising of 51 cattle near Fivemiletown has intensified ahead of a special Stormont meeting, with farming representatives warning the Department cannot be seen to “investigate itself” while North Antrim MP Jim Allister has challenged its interpretation of the court order at the centre of the controversy. The Ulster Farmers’ Union is calling for an independent expert

A public consultation on proposals for two new dog exercise areas in Mid and East Antrim has been approved by councillors. The sites identified by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council are at Wilson Crescent in Ballymena and Eden Playing Fields outside Carrickfergus, with the proposals intended to provide secure areas where dogs can exercise off-lead. However, councillors have raised questions over the locations, parking, potential equipment and safety, while one Ballymena repr

The shocking sight of livestock shot by DAERA officials in a field near Fivemile town, County Fermanagh DAERA has defended its decision to euthanise 51 cattle near Fivemiletown, saying officials were left with “no reasonable alternative” after their owner failed to dispose of the herd following a lifetime court ban on keeping animals. However, farming representatives say major questions remain over whether every possible alternative was exhausted, why more cattle could not ha

DUP agriculture spokesperson, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart Pressure on DAERA over the controversial destruction of cattle near Fivemiletown has intensified after DUP agriculture spokesperson Carla Lockhart described the incident as “one of the biggest scandals the department has ever faced”, while calling for a full public inquiry rather than an external review. The Upper Bann MP said confidence in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) had been

Inset: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, and the scenes in a Fivemiletown field where dozens of cattle were shot by DAERA officials. Monday, August 3, 2026 An independent review will be carried out into the controversial DAERA enforcement operation near Fivemiletown that resulted in the euthanasia of dozens of cattle, after Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister announced the investigation will now be conducted by someone from outside his department. The decision marks a significa