Sheep Welfare in Mulesing and Wool Production

Mulesing - removing skin folds around a sheep's hindquarters without anaesthetic - remains controversial, with alternatives developing but not yet universally adopted.

Key Facts

Mulesing is performed to prevent flystrike - a potentially fatal condition where blowflies lay eggs in wool-covered skin folds
Around 10 million Australian merino lambs are mulesed annually without pain relief
New Zealand banned mulesing in 2018 following industry pressure and retailer commitments
Breeding programs for flystrike-resistant sheep have made progress but require generational time to implement
Non-mulesing alternatives include clips, liquid nitrogen treatment, and genetic selection
Major retailers and brands have made commitments to eliminate mulesed wool from supply chains by various deadlines

Welfare Considerations

Mulesing causes acute and lasting pain - the procedure removes strips of skin without anaesthetic, and wound healing takes weeks. Even proponents acknowledge the severe welfare cost and justify it against the alternative risk of flystrike. The availability of anaesthetic and analgesic products means that where mulesing continues, pain relief is increasingly available but not universally used. The industry transition to non-mulesing alternatives is real but slow.

What You Can Do

Choose wool products certified as non-mulesed through the Responsible Wool Standard or equivalent
Advocate for mandatory pain relief in any mulesing that continues during transition periods
Support breeding programs developing flystrike-resistant sheep genetics
Ask your clothing brand about their wool sourcing and mulesing policy
Back campaigns accelerating the industry transition to mulesing alternatives in Australia