Wool Production and Sheep Welfare Globally

Wool production from over 1 billion sheep worldwide raises welfare concerns about mulesing, shearing stress, lameness, and the fate of non-productive animals.

Key Facts

Australia produces approximately 25% of global wool, predominantly from Merino sheep
Mulesing — surgically removing strips of skin around the breech — is used to prevent flystrike but causes significant acute pain
New Zealand banned mulesing in 2018; Australia has faced sustained pressure to follow
Shearing is inherently stressful and can cause cuts, hypothermia, and injury if done rapidly under pressure
Lameness in sheep is widespread and often undertreated, with prevalence rates of 5-10% common
Wool sheep retain breeding selection for heavy fleece that causes heat stress and mobility problems

Welfare Considerations

Wool from sheep involves a complex mix of welfare considerations. The most serious include mulesing without pain relief, poor lameness management, and rough shearing practices under time pressure. Less visible issues include breeding for such heavy fleeces that animals struggle to regulate temperature and move freely. Certification schemes like RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) address some practices but coverage is partial and verification challenging. Consumer awareness has driven meaningful progress on mulesing in particular, demonstrating the leverage of market pressure.

What You Can Do

Look for RWS or equivalent certified wool in clothing and textiles
Support brands that have committed to mulesing-free sourcing
Advocate for mandatory pain relief for all husbandry procedures in sheep farming
Reduce consumption of wool products from high-risk sourcing regions
Support research into non-mulesing flystrike prevention methods