Canada’s food-safety agency says professional marksmen have killed the hundreds of ostriches at a B.C. farm overnight after the failure of farmers to secure a last-minute legal reprieve from the bird-flu cull.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed in a Friday statement the completion of the extermination of the flock, which had been delayed by various legal challenges since the outbreak was detected last December.

The agency says it consulted with experts and determined shooting the massive birds would be the “most appropriate and humane option.” Now, the agency said it is disposing of the bodies.