Australia's wool industry aims to phase out mulesing in Merino flocks, supported by research and breeding alternatives.
Australia's wool industry is working to end mulesing, a contentious practice in the sheep industry affecting 80% of Merino flocks, with $320m in annual costs for prevention, treatment, and production. While no official date has been set, some producers are breeding Merino sheep that won't require mulesing or flystrike treatments, with support from industry group Australian Wool Innovation, which has spent $44m since 2000 on researching alternatives. Despite some resistance, the transition to non-mulesed sheep breeds offers benefits, including higher fertility, resilience, and longer staple length.
August 11, 2024
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