Mulesing-free wool production systems demonstrate that eliminating a painful surgical procedure is compatible with commercial wool production when combined with alternative flystrike prevention strategies.
The transition away from mulesing demonstrates that welfare improvements and commercial viability are compatible. Sheep on welfare-certified farms experience the same production environment without the acute and post-operative pain of mulesing. The New Zealand example provides proof of concept that a major wool-producing nation can eliminate the practice entirely. The welfare benefit extends to millions of lambs annually who avoid a painful procedure with no analgesic protection.