What does the cryptic crossword clue "Bovine men do eat messily, as previously stated (5,9)" mean?

The wordplay uses an anagram. anagram of BOVINE + MEN + DO + EAT = ABOVEMENTIONED The answer is ABOVEMENTIONED.

Bovine men do eat messily, as previously stated (5,9)

Daily Mail Cryptic #16788 | 1 Down | 2022-03-08 flower