2008 News
Australian Wool Industry cautions accuracy
25 February 2008 (24 February 2008, Sweden)
The Australian Wool & Sheep Industry Taskforce has today totally rejected allegations made about the Australian wool industry.
The Australian Wool Industry is able to produce the best wool in the world only by having animal welfare standards equal to the world’s best said Stuart McCullough, The Australian Wool and Industry Taskforce leader in Stockholm:
“Unhealthy or unhappy sheep do not produce good wool”, said Mr McCullough.
“Australia produces the highest quality wool in the world. If you buy a high quality garment in an apparel shop, chances are the wool is produced by Australian farmers under welfare standards equal to the best in the world.
“Mulesing is a once a lifetime animal welfare practice that saves the lives of up to three million sheep a year by preventing flystrike.
“The industry is investing over $15 million into finding alternatives and has a commitment to the phasing out of the current practice of mulesing by 2010.
“The Scandinavian community should know that mulesing is an essential practice conducted in Australia to protect Australian Merino sheep from a potentially painful death – the cause of which is not experienced significantly elsewhere in the world.
“Retailers are watching this process with the aid of agreements – a Compact with the British Retail Consortium and a similar agreement with the US National Retail Federation - which set out in writing the necessary commitments and assurances the 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 of the current practice of mulesing by 2010.”
The Taskforce has actively updated retailers and manufacturers across Sweden on the alternatives to mulesing, clips, intradermal, breeding bare breech sheep and genomic research on fighting the fly.
Mr McCullough said, “The Australian Wool Industry Taskforce supports the use of pain relief in the post mulesing process and has actively promoted it through retailer tool kits which are distributed around the world. Australian Wool Innovation, the research and development company has also supported the use of pain relief as part of the mulesing process.
“H&M has not banned Australian wool. As it says on its website, it will continue to purchase Australian wool from woolgrowers not practising mulesing.
“The wool industry understands H&M’s position and is working to support them in sourcing Australian wool for their particular needs.
“The Australian wool industry is very proud of its product and its animal welfare standards and constantly invites others to study in Australia. As part of the global animal welfare community it is interested in hosting professional personnel and veterinarians who are genuinely interested in research and looking for improvements in animal welfare management.”