Mulesing — surgically removing skin folds around a sheep tail — is practiced primarily in Australia as flystrike prevention and remains a controversial welfare intervention.
Mulesing causes documented acute pain that can persist for days. The procedure is performed on lambs without pain relief in most cases. While effective at reducing flystrike risk, the welfare cost is substantial. Alternatives including selective breeding, topical treatments, and non-mulesed flystrike management exist and are increasingly adopted, though they require investment and time.