Mulesing Alternatives
What is mulesing and why is it done?
Mulesing is the removal of wool-bearing skin from part of the tail and breech area of sheep and is performed to reduce the incidence of flystrike in that area.
Flystrike is a condition caused by flies laying eggs in damp areas of a sheep's skin. As the eggs hatch, flesh-eating maggots create painful wounds, causing the sheep significant suffering and distress. Without fast treatment, flystrike is fatal.
Around 54% of lambs born in Australia in 2008 were mulesed. Mulesing is an extremely painful procedure and it's generally carried out without anaesthesia.
So what are the alternatives?
To date, RSPCA Australia has expressed support for the development of mulesing alternatives - clips and intradermals - pending the results of welfare trials and always emphasising the breeding of strike-resistant sheep as the long-term alternative. In addition, we have encouraged the use of pain relief post-mulesing for those farmers continuing with the practice.
The RSPCA was very disappointed with the announcement by AWI that the 2010 deadline is unlikely to be met. Nevertheless, we will continue to push strongly for a mulesing phase out. We will also continue to have a position of support for any alternative that offers a more humane option to mulesing.
The RSPCA promotes an integrated approach to the prevention and control of blowfly strike in sheep. Such an approach includes animal husbandry and farm management practices that take into account:
- the timing of shearing and crutching
- effective tail docking (where required)
- strategic application of chemical treatments to control flies (where required)
- effective control of scouring (especially the control of worms) and
- regular inspection (every two days) of the flock
We believe these strategies should be accompanied by a breeding and selection program that aims to reduce wrinkle and increase the bare area in the perineal region; in other words, breeding is the long-term solution.
The RSPCA supports modification of the breech area only where it has been established for a particular geographical location that this will reduce the risk of flystrike. Mulesing must only be performed as a measure of last resort and where alternative humane options are not viable. The latter may include the use of clips. Mulesing must always be performed by an accredited operator, using pain relief. Lambs that will be sold at an early age for meat must not be subject to breech modification.
The RSPCA has compiled a research report examining proposed measures for implementation now and into the future to prevent flystrike (in the absence of mulesing).
- Download the report here or for more information visit our Knowledgebase
Inevitably, the RSPCA position will be subject to change pending the results of ongoing research and the associated welfare trials.