Brid Rodgers: Met farming union representatives at Stormont

"Every farmer, no matter where he lives in Northern Ireland, must assume there are infected livestock next door."

The minister appealed to farmers not to allow cattle and sheep to mix.

She said any farmer who keeps both must inspect the cattle first.

Meanwhile, in County Tyrone the incineration is continuing of hundreds of cattle slaughtered after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Ardboe.

And a precautionary cull of sheep and cattle has been taking place in the Glens of Antrim following the discovery of the disease on a farm near Cushendall.

The third outbreak of the disease at the farm in Cushendall was confirmed at the weekend.

The second outbreak of the disease was in the Ardboe area last Friday.

The first case in Northern Ireland was confirmed on 1 March on a farm at Meigh in south Armagh.

Canon Harry Moore: We will bounce back

A support group has been set up to help farmers and the Ardboe community through the crisis.

Group chairman Canon Harry Moore said people were despondent but resilient and would bounce back.

"There will be life after foot-and-mouth," he said.

Tourism affected

The outbreak in Cushendall is already taking its toll on tourism in the area.

North Antrim boasts one of Northern Ireland's greatest tourist attractions, the Giant's Causeway.

Guest house owner Oliver McMullan said he had 30 cancellations this week.

We will continue to keep it under review, bearing in mind a large number of our members come from the farming and rural community

The Orange Order's Denis Watson

Mr McMullan, who is also a local councillor and farmer said: "It is devastating for the tourism trade and it goes right through the whole community."

Meanwhile, the Orange Order has said its demonstrations on 12 July are going ahead.

Thousands of Orangemen attend the demonstrations for the "Twelfth" each year.

Leading Orangeman and Northern Ireland Assembly member Denis Watson said the organisation would be watching closely for developments in the foot-and-mouth crisis.

He said: "We will continue to keep it under review, bearing in mind a large number of our members come from the farming and rural community.

"We do sympathise with people who have been affected in recent days and we do hope there will be no further outbreaks in the province."

The Department of Agriculture can be contacted on its helpline numbers on 02890 524279 or 02890 524590 between 0830 - 2100 GMT.