Some 64,000 birds are being culled at a commercial premises in Dungannon, on the Tyrone side of the border. It comes after a suspected case of bird flu has been identified at the site.
A temporary control zone is in place and samples from the site have been sent for testing. The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland (NI), Brian Dooher, has taken the decision based on a number of factors including the preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.
Meanwhile, on this side of the border, a compulsory housing order for birds and poultry takes effect from this morning. All captive birds will have to be kept indoors in an effort to tackle rising cases of the avian influenza.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon says the order is being implemented across the entire island of Ireland in order to protect livestock (listen below):
