Mulesing - surgical removal of skin folds from Merino sheep - is a welfare-contentious practice used to prevent flystrike, with multiple alternatives now available.
Mulesing represents a welfare dilemma: it causes acute pain but prevents flystrike, which is itself a serious welfare emergency. The procedure without analgesia is particularly concerning given available pain management options. The broader solution lies in genetic selection for plain-bodied Merino sheep that don't require mulesing - breeding programs have already reduced the practice's necessity. Transitional approaches including mandatory analgesia and accelerated genetic improvement programs can reduce welfare costs on both sides of this difficult trade-off.