Progress in New Zealand toward eliminating mulesing through alternative flystrike prevention.
New Zealand's mulesing ban provides a real-world demonstration that major wool production is viable without the painful surgical procedure that involves cutting skin from the breech of lambs without anesthesia. The transition required investment in breeding program development, management changes, and acceptance of some increase in flystrike treatment costs. The welfare improvement from eliminating routine surgical mulesing without pain relief is substantial, affecting millions of animals annually. New Zealand's success provides a template and evidence base for the argument that Australia can also eliminate mulesing, making the persistence of the practice in the world's largest wool producer a welfare failure with an available solution.