Sheep Welfare and Mulesing Alternatives

Mulesing — surgically removing skin from around sheep tails to prevent flystrike — is a painful procedure increasingly challenged by welfare advocates and replaced by alternative methods.

Key Facts

Mulesing involves cutting skin from around the tail area of Merino sheep without standard analgesia
Flystrike occurs when blowflies lay eggs in moist wool, causing severe tissue damage and death
New Zealand banned mulesing in 2018 after transitioning farms to alternative prevention methods
Selective breeding for less wrinkled skin reduces flystrike susceptibility without mulesing
Targeted shedding breeds and topical preventives offer effective non-surgical alternatives
Major brands including Patagonia and H&M have committed to sourcing non-mulesed wool

Welfare Considerations

Mulesing causes acute and ongoing pain during and after the procedure, with research documenting inflammation and pain responses lasting days. While flystrike itself causes severe welfare impacts, mulesing is increasingly recognized as an unacceptable response when effective alternatives exist. Selective breeding for smoother skin, targeted use of insect growth regulators, and improved surveillance represent a comprehensive alternative toolkit. Australia, where mulesing is still practiced on most Merino farms, faces growing consumer and industry pressure to complete its transition.

What You Can Do

Choose wool products certified as non-mulesed or sourced from New Zealand
Ask clothing brands about their wool sourcing policies and mulesing commitments
Support organizations campaigning for a complete Australian mulesing ban
Advocate for mandatory analgesia as a minimum standard where mulesing continues
Support research into selective breeding for flystrike-resistant sheep genetics
Reduce wool consumption or choose plant-based fiber alternatives