Mulesing - removing skin folds around sheep's breech area - prevents flystrike but is itself a painful procedure - alternatives are increasingly available and adopted in some regions.
Mulesing welfare involves the same trade-off logic as tail docking in pigs - a painful procedure to prevent a potentially more painful outcome. The welfare case against mulesing is strengthened by the availability of alternatives that achieve similar flystrike protection through breeding, management and chemical approaches. Progress has been significant: plain-bodied Merino breeding reduces the skin fold flystrike risk that makes mulesing seem necessary. Market pressure from retailers banning mulesed wool is an effective lever driving Australian industry change. Where mulesing continues, mandatory pain relief would significantly reduce welfare harm. The welfare trajectory is positive but requires sustained market and advocacy pressure.