Global wool supply chains connect consumers to sheep welfare outcomes across multiple countries, often with little visibility into the conditions at farm level.
Wool supply chain transparency is poor relative to the welfare stakes. Most consumers cannot trace wool products to specific farms or understand the welfare practices applied to the sheep that produced them. Mulesing remains widespread in Australia despite alternatives being available — pain relief use during mulesing is still not universal. Transport of live sheep for slaughter from Australia to the Middle East has been associated with severe welfare incidents. Certification schemes including the Responsible Wool Standard require welfare provisions but vary in auditing rigor. Consumer and brand pressure has driven significant progress but implementation gaps remain.