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Dairy market sinks to eight year low
Milk
"While we have been obsessing about the machinations of the GDT, the UK market returns have sunk to an eight year low."
MPE drops to 24.3ppl

The UK dairy market has fallen to an eight year low, according to an industry indicator.

Nick Holt-Martyn of The Dairy Group said: "While we have been obsessing about the machinations of the GDT, the UK market returns have sunk to an eight year low.

"The Market Price Equivalent has dropped to 24.3ppl, the lowest since May 2007. Previous lows were 26.9 ppl in April 2012 an 26.1 ppl in May 2009."

A comparison table of market returns from May 2007 with May 2015 reveals that liquid returns are unchanged, with butter and cheddar higher.

However, commodities are very much behind the returns of eight years ago.  The Dairy Group says the significance of this is that commodities were less influential on domestic prices in 2007 compared to cheddar or liquid. Now, partly through GDT, global prices, and transparency in domestic returns, commodities are much more influential.

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.