Mulesing

Flystrike prevention is a vital part of sheep husbandry in Australia, particularly in reference to Merino sheep.

The most effective method of flystrike prevention currently available is mulesing. This involves surgically removing the skin around the breech (backside) to prevent wool growth which reduces the risk of fly strike caused by a unique and very aggressive blowfly (Lucilia cuprina).

  
Now Playing: Flystrike - The Reality

Close up of the Australian blowflyWithout mulesing, blowfly eggs are laid in moist wool; the flesh eating maggots create painful wounds, causing the sheep considerable pain, stress and suffering and, in many cases, death.

An immediate ban on mulesing would kill up to three million sheep in years when conditions were conducive to flystrike - hot and wet - it would be exceptionally cruel not to mules sheep without a proven alternative flystrike prevention method being available in Australia.

Scientific studies clearly show that mulesing and tail docking are currently the most practical, effective and humane methods of flystrike prevention available to Australian woolgrowers. It eliminates almost all flystrike in sheep.

See what really happensFind out why flystrike prevention is so important.
This video also includes an actual mulesing demonstration with comments by industry and animal welfare leaders.
Watch the video: Large (12Mb) Regular (4Mb) Quicktime

The Australian Government, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Australia and the Australian Veterinary Association accept the practice of mulesing as a necessary sheep husbandry procedure to prevent flystrike.

happy lambsDocumented studies have shown that this procedure does not cause long-term distress to the animals and infection is a rare occurrence after the procedure. The preventative procedure is only endured once by each sheep to prevent longer-term suffering caused by flystrike.

Alternatives to mulesing

In 2004 the Australian wool industry made a commitment to retailers to phase out the current practice of mulesing by 31 December 2010. This commitment remains firmly in place and the industry is on track to deliver alternative methods for flystrike prevention by the end of December 2010.

Scientist in action

Between 2004/5 and 2006/7 the industry’s research and development body, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Limited, has spent A$10 million on developing alternative flystrike prevention methods to ensure that Australia's sheep flock remains protected against flystrike after mulesing is phased out.

Scientists and researchers both at AWI and commercial companies continue to work on a number of projects, including:

  • Breech clips
    A specialised clip applied to the breech area of the sheep causing the loose skin to fall off and resulting in a greater bare area.

  • Intradermal
    A needleless intradermal injection technology that causes the treated areas of skin to die, form a scab and then fall off, leaving an increased natural bare area around the breech.

  • Genetics
    Research into breeding sheep with a naturally bare area around their breech.

Other examples of how AWI is helping develop a range of tools to minimise flystrike in Australian sheep flock can be viewed by downloading;

Remember...

Sheep producers use the best animal health management systems and care about the welfare of animals.

The Australian wool industry has a positive worldwide reputation for its animal husbandry practices. Its success is based upon producing healthy and contented animals. That care is a prerequisite for production of high quality Merino wool.

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