Wool Production Welfare: Shearing, Mulesing, and Alternatives

Wool production involves welfare considerations across the full sheep management lifecycle — from shearing practice and lambing conditions to mulesing in Merino sheep and end-of-life slaughter — that vary greatly across production systems.

Key Facts

Approximately 1.1 billion sheep are farmed for wool globally; Australia produces the majority of fine Merino wool
Mulesing — surgically removing skin folds around the tail to prevent flystrike — is performed without anaesthesia on most Australian Merino farms
The RSPCA and major brands have called for mulesing to be phased out in favour of pain relief and breed selection alternatives
Poorly executed machine shearing can cause nicks, cuts, and rough handling that constitute significant welfare harm
Slow-growing Merino breeds selected for heavy fleece may suffer from wool blindness, fly strike, and lambing difficulties

Welfare Considerations

Wool welfare reform centres primarily on mulesing elimination and shearing standards. New Zealand banned mulesing without pain relief in 2018; Australian industry has moved toward pain relief requirements though full elimination of the practice remains a goal. Alternative approaches including selective breeding for bare breeches, pain-relief injection at time of mulesing, and topical anaesthesia are all being adopted. Shearing welfare depends on shearer skill and workload management, areas where training standards are improving.

What You Can Do

Choose wool products certified under schemes that prohibit mulesing without pain relief or are from New Zealand sources
Advocate for major fashion brands to commit to mulesing-free wool in their supply chains
Support research into Merino breed lines selected for reduced flystrike susceptibility that eliminate mulesing need
Engage wool industry bodies with evidence on mulesing alternatives and consumer demand for welfare-assured wool