Science and Strategy, Not Deadlines: The Future of Mulesing

The recent update to the Australian Veterinary Association's (AVA) policy on mulesing has once again placed this issue under the spotlight. While much attention has focused on the AVA's support for a phase-out of mulesing, it is equally important to acknowledge what the policy also recognises, that flystrike remains a severe animal welfare problem, and an immediate ban on mulesing would create significant adverse consequences for sheep welfare.

The AVA has deliberately not called for an immediate prohibition because it recognises that practical and effective alternatives are not yet available across all Australian sheep production systems.

Importantly, this is not a debate that should be left solely to activists, policymakers or commentators. Governments and the

AVA need to hear directly from the people responsible for sheep welfare on farm.

The need for growers and grower representative groups to engage is extremely important. Activist organisations are currently conducting campaigns aimed at influencing governments to eliminate mulesing. Policymakers are hearing those voices, so they must also hear from the people who understand the welfare consequences of flystrike and who are responsible for making animal welfare decisions every day.

WoolProducers is therefore encouraging woolgrowers and industry stakeholders to write to Federal Agriculture Minister, the Hon Julie Collins, their respective state agriculture minister and the AVA to ensure that producer voices are heard in this discussion.

Key messages for correspondence could include:

• Protecting sheep from flystrike must remain the primary welfare objective.

• The AVA has not called for an immediate ban because flystrike remains a serious animal welfare issue and practical alternatives are not yet available across all production systems.

• Mulesing with pain relief remains an important welfare tool in some environments until practical alternatives are available.

• Woolgrowers continue to reduce reliance on mulesing through genetics, management improvements and innovation.

• Genetic progress takes time, particularly in fine wool Merino enterprises operating in high flystrike-risk environments.

• Mandatory pain relief must be required nationally whenever mulesing is performed.

• Continued investment in research, genetics, producer extension and a coordinated industry strategy is the most sustainable long-term pathway forward.

  
  

Animal welfare must be central to this debate and must be the one overriding consideration in any decision, and flystrike is one of the most serious welfare challenges facing the Australian sheep industry as it causes immense suffering and, in severe cases, death.

For many producers, particularly those operating Merino enterprises in higher-risk environments, mulesing remains an important tool for protecting sheep until other options can reliably deliver the same welfare outcomes.

This is why WoolProducers continues to support the retention of the right for producers to conduct mulesing with pain relief, where it remains necessary to safeguard the welfare of their sheep.

While industry critics will say that Australian woolgrowers have done very little in this space, the industry has been working for many years to reduce reliance on the practice through breeding, management improvements, research and innovation. Many woolgrowers have invested heavily in breeding plainer bodied sheep less reliant on mulesing, while researchers continue to pursue advances in genetics, genomics and management systems that can further reduce risk.

However, meaningful genetic change is not achieved overnight. Developing sheep that naturally don’t require mulesing while maintaining wool quality, productivity and enterprise profitability is a long-term process, particularly Merino flocks operating in challenging environments. This is one of the key reasons WoolProducers does not support another arbitrary phase-out date.

The 2010 phase-out target was determined by industry in good faith, with the aim of encouraging adoption of alternatives and responding to market expectations. While well intentioned, it ultimately demonstrated that setting a date is far easier than achieving the practical, genetic and management changes required across Australia's diverse sheep production systems. The takeaway message from that experience is that lasting progress must be driven by science, practical solutions and animal welfare outcomes, not dates on a calendar.

Acknowledging this reality does not mean dismissing the broader challenges facing the industry. WoolProducers has consistently argued that Australia needs a genuine industry-wide strategy on mulesing. The issue has become increasingly polarised, with some calling for an immediate ban and others arguing there is no issue to address. The reality is that it is both an animal welfare issue and a reputational issue, and neither can be ignored if we want Australian wool to remain competitive and respected in global markets.

Whether individual growers’ mules or not, mulesing continues to feature prominently in discussions held with not just activists, but with customers, brands and international markets. It is imperative that growers know what the supply chain’s attitude towards mulesing is so that growers can be empowered to make informed decisions about the practice which works for their individual enterprises and animals.

The issue is not going away, which is why the industry needs a coordinated and mature approach to addressing it. Importantly, the industry is beginning to recognise this need. Wool Industries Australia is facilitating discussions across the supply chain about the future management of this issue. While no specific outcomes have been determined, the fact these conversations are occurring is both necessary and welcome.

Any future mulesing strategy must also recognise the progress that has already been made by individual growers and industry as a whole.

AWEX declaration data shows that more than one-quarter of auction wool is now declared non-mulesed, a further 3.4 per cent is declared ceased mulesing, and almost 46 per cent is declared as coming from sheep that have been mulesed with pain relief. Only 5.7 per cent is declared as mulesed without pain relief. These figures demonstrate an industry that has been steadily reducing reliance on mulesing while increasing the adoption of pain management.

Another positive for industry is the largely voluntary adoption of pain relief for mulesing, which according to the Sheep Sustainability Framework sits at nearly 90% of producers who mules adopting the practice, which is an equally important part of maintaining the industry's social licence.

Mandatory pain relief strengthens the industry's welfare credentials and reinforces the case for retaining mulesing where it remains necessary to prevent the far greater suffering caused by flystrike.

Frankly, those within the industry who continue to oppose mandatory pain relief are undermining the very practice they claim to be protecting, and the overall reputation of the Australian wool industry. Every argument against pain relief weakens the industry's position and provides ammunition to those advocating for an outright ban regardless of the welfare consequences for sheep.

This is not a new position for WoolProducers, having adopted this policy in 2018 and since 2019, WoolProducers has advocated to the Australian Animal Welfare Task Group to amend the Australian Sheep Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines that would require pain relief for mulesing regardless of the age of the lamb.

The future of mulesing must be determined by evidence, science and genuine animal welfare outcomes.

The challenge is not choosing between animal welfare and market expectations; it is responding to both. Retaining the right to mules where necessary, supporting mandatory pain relief, investing in genetics and innovation, and engaging honestly with customers are not competing priorities. They are complementary parts of a practical and responsible pathway forward.

The pathway forward is not ideology. It is science, practicality, continuous improvement and industry leadership, and most importantly, it is putting sheep welfare first.

Jo Hall

CEO, WoolProducers Australia