Mulesing — surgical removal of skin folds around a sheep tail — causes significant pain and distress, and viable alternatives now exist that protect sheep from flystrike without the procedure.
Mulesing inflicts significant pain on millions of Merino sheep annually, and the wound healing process prolongs this suffering. The procedure was adopted as a practical solution to flystrike, which itself is a serious welfare threat, but advances in genetics, management, and chemical protection now offer genuine alternatives. Breeding programs selecting for plain-bodied, low-wrinkle sheep have proven effective in New Zealand and are gaining traction in Australia. Where mulesing continues, mandatory use of effective pain relief represents a minimum welfare standard. Consumer and retailer pressure has driven significant progress, demonstrating how market forces can improve animal welfare outcomes.