Sheep shearing is necessary for welfare in wool breeds but the act of shearing itself involves significant stress and risk of injury when performed without adequate skill and care.
Shearing welfare depends almost entirely on handler skill, attitude, and training. Expert shearing is fast, confident, and minimizes stress through efficient technique, while unskilled or careless shearing causes injuries, prolonged restraint stress, and unnecessary fear. The welfare case for ending mulesing is strong — flystrike prevention through selective breeding for bare breeching and chemical treatments offers alternatives that do not involve surgical mutilation without analgesia. Wool consumers have leverage to demand welfare standards at shearing through certified wool schemes that require audited handling practices.