R&D update
Mulesing alternatives fast tracked
Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) is fast tracking research into blowfly control to provide woolgrowers, as quickly as possible, with one or more practical, pain-free alternatives to surgical mulesing.
AWI now hopes to have at least one such alternative registered for marketing during 2006.
To achieve this, AWI has made breech flystrike prevention and control a top research and development priority. While it has over $9 million already invested in this area, it has earmarked up to $15 million for the project.
AWI Blowfly Control Project Manager Jules Dorrian said the wool industry was fast tracking the research so woolgrowers would have time to work out what mulesing alternatives would suit their operation well before the 2010 deadline for the end of surgical mulesing.
Ms Dorrian said areas of research included genetics, bio-controls, the blowfly genome, different management techniques, and non-surgical alternatives such as using clips and the natural protein, collagenase and other safe chemicals.
"AWI is aiming to start transferring the (results of) research and development in this area during 2006 to woolgrowers so any risks or possible changes can be ironed out well before 2010," she said.
"This will allow woolgrowers to trial the new methods to see which is suitable for their operation and type of sheep."
However, the aim of fast tracking research would not "compromise the rigour of the process".
"We have to make sure the alternative methods work every year, under all kinds of different conditions and situations."