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Misleading pork adverts banned

Red Tractor advertisements have received 207 complaints

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have banned pork advertisements under the Assured Food Standards (AFS) Red Tractor scheme.

The advertisements marketed high welfare pork, causing 207 complaints, including one from Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).

Red Tractor are known to keep some pigs in crowded barren pens and on slatted floors without straw - conditions many disagree is high welfare. Though Red Tractor pork significantly exceeds EU guidelines for accommodation standards, and use this as the basis for their high welfare claims, the ASA have deemed their advertising misleading.

According to CIWF, 80 percent of British pigs are estimated to be reared within the Red Tractor scheme, whose advertisements are no longer to appear in their current form.

Joyce D'Silva of CIWF said: 'This is a victory for consumers, who deserve to be able to choose higher welfare meat without being misled. This is also a victory for those pig farmers in the UK who adhere to higher welfare standards like the Soil Association's Organic Standard or the RSPCA's Freedom Food.'

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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.