2005 News
Wool and sheep industry welcomes animal rights group support for mulesing
The news that Animal Liberation will support the Australian wool and sheep industry approach to mulesing has been welcomed by the Industry Taskforce.
WoolProducers President Robert Pietsch, speaking on behalf of the Taskforce, said Animal Liberation’s announcement was prompted by a new anaesthetic spray. Early experiments suggest the spray will reduce the pain associated with mulesing.
“While we recognise that the spray has yet to receive regulatory approval prior to commercial release, it is a very positive development,” Mr Pietsch said.
“The statements by Animal Liberation that it can accept the industry’s timetable for mulesing to continue, with the use of the new spray, until the current procedure is phased out by 2010 is also welcome."
Mr Pietsch said the undertaking by the animal rights group to deliver information about the spray to United States animal rights organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has the best wishes of the Taskforce.
“To date PETA has not been willing to consider any of the very useful research and development effort funded by industry and government, including research into pain relief measures,” Mr Pietsch said.