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Cattle and Sheep: Euthanasia

Asked by Robin SwannUlster Unionist PartyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 4 September 2026UIN 24991

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many i) cattle and ii) sheep have been euthanased by shooting, by their department in each of the last 3 years for welfare concerns.

Answered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officers would only dispatch animals by shooting in rare and complex animal welfare cases and during depopulation.

There are no central records of cattle or sheep killed by shooting by APHA for animal welfare reasons in the last 3 years.

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