2008 News
Australian Wool Industry encourages balanced debate
25 February 2008
The Australian Wool & Sheep Industry Taskforce has asked Sweden’s TV4 to clarify a number of statements made on the practice of mulesing broadcast on last night’s ‘Kalla fakta’ program.
Contrary to the program’s claims, mulesing is not a cheap alternative for Australian woolgrowers.
“It is the only option available at this time that works to protect the flock from flystrike all year,” said Stuart McCullough, on behalf of the Taskforce in Stockholm.
“While there are other animal welfare procedures employed such as ‘crutching’ they are additional protection measures and are not as effective without that once in a lifetime mulesing procedure.” (Crutching is a technique where the wool from the Merino’s rear is removed with clippers and carried out at least once a year.)
Mr McCullough said that while the industry respected the views of Swedish veterinary surgeon, Johan Beck-Friis, there was plenty of support from the other side.
“The Australian Veterinary Association, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Australian Government all accept that mulesing is necessary,” he said.
“We accept the public’s concern that mulesing is painful, but the Scandinavian community has the right to know that mulesing is an essential practice conducted in Australia to protect Merino sheep from a potentially painful death.”
Doubt was also cast in an interview on ‘Kalla fakta’ whether the 2010 commitment to phase out mulesing would be met.
“In 2004 the industry made a commitment to the phasing out of the current practice of mulesing by 2010,” Mr McCullough said.
“Retailers are monitoring this process with the co-operation of the wool industry and the aid of a Compact with the British Retail Consortium and a similar agreement with the US National Retail Federation. Both set the necessary commitments and assurances retailers need to satisfy their corporate social responsibility and customer requirements. It includes the independent monitoring of the research and development to support the industry’s commitment to the phasing out.
“Australia is able to produce the best wool in the world only by having animal welfare standards equal to the world’s best. Most retailers know that.
“We would ask Scandinavians to support open and honest debate based on facts and good science. We offered to participate in the discussion on TV4 on Monday morning. We have nothing to hide and we want to discuss this issue which we understand is confronting. Unfortunately TV4 decided against our participation,” Mr McCullough concluded.