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Charity urges shoppers to check labels

Concerns over brands using eggs from caged hens

Animal welfare charity, FOUR PAWS, has urged shoppers to check labels before buying cakes, biscuits and other confectionary, to check that the eggs used are not from caged hens.

The charity says that whilst many brands whose products are sold in UK supermarkets have pledged to use free range eggs in their products, many still do not.

 

Spokesperson for FOUR PAWS, Angelique Davies, says: "Around half of hens in the UK are still housed in cages. If it doesn't specify on the ingredient list that the eggs are free-range or barn, you can assume they are likely to have come from cages. 

 

"We're really making headway on this issue; with growing numbers of retailers and manufacturers pledging to use only cage-free eggs, there's plenty of choice for consumers to shop ethically."

 

A poll commissioned by the charity reportedly found that 69 per cent of people to respond said they thought all food products containing eggs should be labelled to show whether the eggs came from caged or cage-free birds.

 

The charity has voiced concerns that the natural behaviour of hens is restricted in a caged environment, and is calling for the egg labelling laws to be extended so that companies using eggs from caged hens in their products will have to make that clear on the label.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

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News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.