Mulesing removes wool-bearing skin from Merino sheep to prevent blowfly strike, but causes significant pain. Evidence-based alternatives can protect sheep welfare without this welfare compromise.
Mulesing welfare is contested territory: the procedure causes significant acute pain, while unprotected flystrike causes prolonged severe suffering from parasitic infestation. The welfare calculus has historically been presented as mulesing versus flystrike — but this is a false dichotomy. Pain relief during mulesing, selective breeding for plain-bodied sheep with lower flystrike susceptibility, and improved flock monitoring with targeted preventive treatment can collectively protect Merino sheep from both mulesing and flystrike. Consumer and brand pressure has accelerated adoption of pain relief where mulesing continues, and the genetics pipeline for non-mulesed flocks is advancing. The welfare trajectory is positive, but the pace of change requires sustained market and regulatory pressure.