Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Mulesing Alternatives and Welfare

Mulesing is a painful surgical procedure used in Australia to prevent blowfly strike that is facing global welfare scrutiny.

Key Facts

Mulesing involves cutting skin around the breech of Merino lambs without anaesthesia
The procedure creates a bare scar resistant to flystrike but causes significant acute pain
Major international retailers have committed to sourcing mulesing-free wool
Alternatives including pain relief, selective breeding and chemical preventives are available
New Zealand voluntarily ended mulesing; Australian industry is under sustained campaign pressure

Welfare Considerations

Mulesing without anaesthesia causes acute pain and the welfare case against it is strong. Effective alternatives exist including selective breeding for bare breech Merinos, making the procedure unnecessary. Continued campaign pressure and procurement policy are the most effective levers for change.

What You Can Do

Choose wool products labelled as mulesing-free or from New Zealand and UK sources
Support retailers maintaining commitments to mulesing-free wool sourcing
Advocate for the Australian wool industry to complete the transition to mulesing-free production