2004 News
National Farmers' Federation criticises intimidating tactics of activist group PETA
The National Farmers' Federation has today strongly criticised the intimidating tactics of extreme animal activist group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against Australia's sheep and wool industry.
While PETA has targeted American Retailer Abercrombie and Fitch, the fact of the matter is that Abercrombie and Fitch does not use Australian wool.
President of the National Farmers' Federation, Mr Peter Corish, said PETA is an extremist organisation, distributing misleading information which does not stack up to rigorous analysis and facts.
"PETA is against the use of animals for food and clothing and opposes recreational fishing and horse racing.
Mr Corish has strongly refuted PETA's accusations that the wool industry in Australia caused sheep to suffer unnecessarily.
"Animal welfare is a priority for Australian farmers: they manage over 100 million sheep. We are the world's largest wool producer and Australians are proud of the industry's achievements," Mr Corish said.
"The Australian Veterinary Association and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA - Australia) accept the practice of mulesing as a necessary sheep husbandry procedure to prevent flystrike.
"The livestock export trade and the animal husbandry practice of mulesing have the support of the Australian Government.
"A ban on mulesing would kill up to three million sheep in years when conditions were conducive to flystrike. We must mules to protect our sheep as many sheep would otherwise be flystruck during their life," Mr Corish said.
Mulesing is a surgical procedure performed on young sheep, which involves removing the skin around the breech (backside) to prevent wool growth and reduce wrinkling of the skin.
Mulesing reduces the risk of fly strike caused by a unique and very aggressive Australian blowfly (Lucilla cuprina). These flies lay eggs in moist wool; the flesh-eating larvae (maggots) create painful wounds, causing the sheep considerable pain, stress, suffering and a slow death.
"Mulesing is the only practical way to overcome flystrike. PETA has no better solution but we, in Australia, are moving forward on a replacement for mulesing." In explanation, Mr Corish noted alternative treatment methods were being investigated.
"In an effort to find alternative methods of flystrike prevention, Australian woolgrowers are investing over $7 million in animal health research and development, including the development of a new non surgical alternative to mulesing," he said.
Non surgical mulesing involves the application of a protein that causes the treated skin to contract and cease growing wool. So far the results look promising and if successful this method will be brought to market as soon as possible.
Government heavily regulates the livestock export trade with audits and inspections.
On each ship carrying livestock to the Middle East:
- There is a vet and stockmen on board to care for all sheep
- Each sheep has food and water on demand
- Each sheep can lie down to rest
- The air is changed on board twice as much as on a commercial airliner
- There are special pens for sick animals to get special care.
"Producers and exporters are committed to continuous improvement. 2003 saw the lowest loss rates on record.
"Animal welfare is a high priority for the Australian sheep and wool industry and the innovations we are introducing will help to lift these standards worldwide.
"Australia is leading by example. To stop this industry would be to the detriment of advancements in animal welfare practices world wide."
"The care and management techniques employed by Australian woolgrowers are some of the most advanced in the world," Mr Corish added.
More information:
- Mulesing - this site's main mulesing resource.