Northern Department of Agriculture officials have been in dispute with local people in Co Tyrone over the exhumation of animal carcasses.
A small number of animals were found buried on an outfarm belonging to the Donnelly family, whose farm in Ardboe, Co Tyrone, was at the centre of the North's second foot-and-mouth outbreak on Good Friday.
When officials accompanied by RUC officers moved in to exhume and burn the carcasses in Coagh, Co Tyrone, they were blocked by local people who objected to the burning in the vicinity of their homes. The row was later resolved when officials agreed to incinerate the carcasses elsewhere.
A departmental spokesman said the situation was cleared up to the satisfaction of those expressing concerns: "We are disposing of them [the sheep] today and they won't be burnt in the area where residents were opposed to it."
The Donnelly family said the animals buried on their land had died of natural causes and were buried in line with normal procedures. The Department of Agriculture later confirmed that no signs of the disease were found in the 19 exhumed animals but that samples had been sent to the Pirbright Laboratory in England as a precaution.
The chairman of the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association, Mr Micheal McCoy, said allegations about late-night culls and secret burials of animals were diverting attention from the real issues visited upon farmers by the disease.
"This is a time for all of us, farmers, rural dwellers and politicians, to stick together and defeat this terrible disease. There is no benefit for anyone to be involved in pointing fingers without absolute evidence. We have people employed within the North's government whose role it is to seek out the wrongdoers. All of us should be attempting to assist each other to contain and eradicate foot-and-mouth and look forward to a disease-free status."
Meanwhile, Co Antrim farmers were still waiting anxiously for results from Pirbright of samples from a suspect sheep flock in Ballintoy, Co Antrim. The animals were culled last week and test results had been expected by Monday.
The North's Department of Agriculture said it was hopeful the results of these latest tests would be available today. If confirmed, it would bring the number of outbreaks to five. It would be the second in Co Antrim and is thought to be linked to the case in Cushendall which was confirmed on Easter Sunday.
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that so far 19 people have been questioned in an effort to crack down on rogue farmers and livestock dealers whose illegal movement of animals is suspected to have contributed to spreading the disease.
Six people were caught moving livestock over the weekend and the RUC is preparing a number of prosecutions. The Agriculture Minister, Ms Brid Rodgers, said she was "disheartened" at the rogue farmers' activities.
"I find it very disheartening and appalling that at a time when we are desperately trying to get ahead of this disease people are still moving animals about."