Sheep flystrike control in Merino and other wrinkle-prone breeds is achievable without mulesing through a combination of breed selection, timing of shearing, and insecticide use.
Mulesing causes significant acute pain during and after the procedure — the surgical removal of skin from the breech and tail regions without analgesia in many Australian flocks represents a substantial welfare cost imposed on millions of lambs annually. The alternative — non-mulesing production systems — requires more intensive management through more frequent monitoring, earlier shearing of the breech, and insecticide application, but has been demonstrated to be commercially viable. Where mulesing continues, mandatory provision of effective pain relief — local anaesthetic and NSAIDs — significantly reduces the suffering of the procedure. The welfare trajectory of Australian Merino production is toward mulesing elimination, with welfare research supporting the transition.