Farm Sheep Mulesing Alternatives and Welfare

Mulesing — surgically removing wool-bearing skin from merino sheep — is a painful procedure used to prevent flystrike. Welfare-focused alternatives are increasingly available and adopted.

Key Facts

Mulesing involves cutting away folds of skin around the breech area of merino sheep without anaesthesia
The procedure causes acute pain and post-operative pain lasting days to weeks
It is primarily practiced in Australia which produces around 80% of the world supply of merino wool
Mulesing aims to prevent blowfly strike — a painful condition where flies lay eggs in moist skin folds
Alternative prevention methods include selective breeding for plain-bodied sheep with fewer skin folds
Biological control, crutching, jetting with insecticides, and pain relief during mulesing are alternatives
New Zealand banned mulesing in 2018, demonstrating alternatives are viable at industry scale
Major fashion brands have committed to sourcing mulesing-free wool under consumer pressure

Welfare Considerations

Mulesing causes significant and unnecessary pain in merino sheep. The procedure is typically performed without anaesthesia or analgesia, causing acute distress during surgery and prolonged post-operative pain. Research confirms that sheep show pain behaviours for extended periods after mulesing. The justification — preventing flystrike — is valid, as flystrike itself causes severe welfare harms. However, effective alternatives exist: selective breeding for smoother skin has advanced substantially, and New Zealand eliminated mulesing entirely through a combination of breeding and management. The continued use of mulesing without mandatory pain relief, when alternatives are proven feasible, represents an avoidable welfare harm. Consumer and retailer pressure has been a major driver of welfare improvement in this area.

What You Can Do

Choose wool products certified as mulesing-free or sourced from New Zealand merino
Support fashion brands that have made and kept commitments to eliminate mulesing from supply chains
Advocate for mandatory pain relief as a minimum standard when mulesing occurs
Support research and breeding programs developing plain-bodied merino sheep strains
Raise awareness among consumers about mulesing and welfare-friendly wool alternatives
Reduce wool consumption from unverified sources while mulesing remains widespread