Mulesing, the removal of wool-bearing skin from around a lamb's breech, is practiced in Australia to prevent flystrike but is highly controversial due to the acute pain it causes without anaesthesia in most cases.
Mulesing without pain relief causes acute suffering during the procedure and significant post-operative pain lasting several days. Lambs show behavioural signs of pain including reduced movement, abnormal postures, and vocalisation. The wound site is also vulnerable to flystrike during healing. Transitioning to non-mulesing breeds, regular crutching, and evidence-based breeding programmes can achieve equivalent protection with substantially lower welfare costs.