Woolgrowers get mulesing alternative

Woolgrowers will be able to use anti-flystrike clips on their sheep from next year
instead of mulesing - a practice condemned by the animal welfare lobby which has led
to boycotts of Australian wool.
Marketing body Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) says it has signed an agreement with
a leading farm products supplier to supply the plastic devices in time for the 2009
lamb marking season.
AWI chairman Brian van Rooyen said the clips becoming commercially available gave
growers a tangible alternative to mulesing.
"I'm very heartened that we will be able to get this product to market almost two
years ahead of the industry's 2010 deadline for the phase-out of mulesing," Mr van
Rooyen said.
"The signing of the licence to produce the clips should give woolgrowers the
confidence and certainty they have been looking for."
In mulesing, skin is cut away from around the hindquarters to prevent flystrike.
The clips are attached to loose folds of skin and cause the skin to die and fall off.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), whose international campaign
against mulesing has persuaded numerous clothing makers to shun Australian wool, is
also opposed to the clips.
The wool industry says trials of the clips found lambs suffered less pain and stress
than mulesed lambs, were more likely to survive, and gained more weight.
AWI said the clips were as effective as mulesing in preventing flystrike when used
with complementary animal husbandry practices.