Chris Knight (L) and Mike Cao, sausage makers at Janssen's Continental in Browns Bay, show off their gold medal-winning bangers.

Rising dairy prices continue to underpin gains in the ANZ Commodity Price Index, which has recorded its seventh straight monthly gain last month.

New Zealand bio-security and food safety authorities moved proactively this morning to announce the discovery of a brain disease that affects sheep.

Meat cooperative Silver Fern Farms has reported a 16 per cent rise in full year net profit to $43.6 million, but says conditions were difficult.