Veterinary-focused drug group Dechra Pharmaceuticals posted a 6.5% year-on-year rise in sales in the six months to December 31 and said it was seeing signs of volume growth returning to the market.The pharmaceuticals division saw sales growth of 12.6%, while the services division's revenues were up by 4.6%.'Despite continuing economic uncertainty, there are indications of volume growth starting to return to the market,' the firm said. 'This growth, together with the continued penetration of our own branded products, impending new product launches in the EU and a robust development pipeline, enables the Board to look to the future with optimism.'