A disagreement over compensation payments between farmers and the North's administration forced the temporary postponement of a cull in Co Antrim before it was resolved.
The precautionary culling of animals resumed yesterday as the results of two "hot" suspect cases of foot-and-mouth in Co Antrim were pending from Pirbright laboratory. The North's fourth case was confirmed in Co Tyrone at the weekend.
A spokeswoman at the North's Department of Agriculture yesterday confirmed a cull in the Cushendall area was called off on Sunday night, at the request of the farmer, but resumed yesterday.
It is understood a new Department assessor began working in the area last Saturday, and farmers believed he was awarding less compensation for each animal.
Independent assessment is available to settle any disputes over payments.
A local SDLP councillor, Mr Malachy McSparran, told a meeting on Sunday night the majority of local farmers voted to accept proposed compensation figures.
"There were all kinds of rumours that this assessor was offering £48 for crossbred ewes and almost nothing for blackfaced sheep. But I don't believe things were as bad as that, and it seems an agreement was reached," said Mr McSparran, whose flock of 1,000 sheep was culled last Friday.
His party yesterday called for a "zero tolerance" approach to dealers operating illegally who had brought the disease to the North.
Ms Eilis Haughey, an SDLP candidate in Mid-Ulster, said "racketeers" had threatened the life's work of decent farmers.
The Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association yesterday claimed that not only had "irresponsible" traders brought the disease to the North but they had then attempted to hide it.
"No longer should farmers tolerate shady practice, and those that continue to practice those unscrupulous actions should be penalised severely," said the association chairman, Mr Micheal McCoy.
However, he said there were also concerns that a small number of farmers had yet to fully embrace fortress farming.
"No farmer or farm family can stand alone in this crisis, we all must help each other to cope," he said.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that the Balmoral Agricultural Show, due to be held in mid-August, has been cancelled due to foot-and-mouth.
Mr Bill Yarr, the chief executive of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, said it was only the second time, apart from the two World Wars, that the show had been cancelled over 134 years.
"Along with the rest of the population, we had hoped until recently that the foot-andmouth situation was under control in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately that has not proved the case," said Mr Yarr.
"Our original response, a precautionary postponement of the show from its traditional mid-May slot until August, is now not enough to guarantee zero risk of infection amongst livestock," he added.