Veterinary call to ban mulesing of Australian sheep

We, as veterinarians representing the sectors of private practice, industry, government, and not-for-profit organisations, call on the Australian government to retract its endorsement of mulesing as an appropriate animal husbandry procedure for fly strike prevention in the new Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep.

We also call on the Australian Wool Industry to reinstate its commitment to phasing out the practice of mulesing after having reneged on its 2010 promise. In light of this history, it is particularly imperative that industry remains publically accountable to any commitments towards this goal. 

A phase out period of five years (by 2018) is requested to enable the implementation of the only viable, sustainable solution for preventing fly strike. This solution involves breeding plain-bodied Merino sheep that are completely free of skin wrinkle and able to maintain or improve fleece productivity, whilst adhering to preventative husbandry practices in the meantime. Mulesing is an ad hoc procedure introduced many years ago in order to allow wrinkled skin Merino sheep to continue to be bred. Thus, the fundamental problem (ie the genetic fault) has never been rectified.

Solutions

We demand a renewed commitment to the cessation of this inexcusably inhumane practice and request an explanation from government and industry for their failure to promote the breeding of plain-bodied Merinos with improved fly-strike resistance. Evidence demonstrates that selective breeding can greatly reduce breech strike over a mere five year period. Breeding of plain bodied Merinos with Soft Rolling Skin (SRS; www.srsmerino.com) has shown that all forms of fly strike can be prevented without recourse to mulesing or insecticidal preventative treatment. Additionally, these genetic lines, developed over 25 years ago, have added greater benefits compared to the conventional (wrinkly skin) Merinos including higher fleece weights of finer, better quality wool; easier shearing; improved fecundity and lamb rearing; and significantly reduced requirements for chemicals for fly-strike prevention.

As veterinarians, we call on industry and government to ban mulesing on humane grounds. It is imperative that this genetic solution be implemented as a matter of urgency. Failing to do so will lead to the collapse of the overseas market in Merino wool and risks permanent injury and embarrassment to Australia's reputation as an international leader in animal welfare standards and imposes unacceptable cruelty on millions of Australian animals annually.