News

Australian growers back a non-mulesed wool future + VIDEO

Sheep Central, August 4, 2020


AUSTRALIAN wool growers who successfully ceased mulesing have been recruited by major animal welfare groups in the battle to ban the practice on the nation’s sheep properties.

A new report — ‘Towards a Non-Mulesed Future’ – with data from 97 growers, has found that most (77.5 percent) transitioned to plain-bodied Merinos within five years and 42.7pc within two years.

Most growers surveyed for the report said moving to plain-bodied Merinos is not costly, increased lamb production, lowered body strike, and generated wool price premiums and a higher return on investment.

The report by Brisbane consultancy BG Economics and funded by Humane Society International and FOUR PAWS seems to contrast with Australian Wool Innovation-funded research that found it might take 11 to 20 years to reduce the incidence of flystrike in flocks to less than one strike per 100 ewes per year.

Humane Society International and FOUR PAWS believe that the viability of the genetic solution to mulesing is now clear and there’s never been a better time for industry to switch gears and create a roadmap to end mulesing.

BG Economics principal economist Dr Stephen Thornton said the results show that nearly all wool growers surveyed have experienced increased financial benefits and the welfare of their animals is also improved.

“These growers are now well-positioned to meet the market in the years to come as more retailers make the decision to only stock products which use non-mulesed wool.”

Dr Thornton said future studies focused solely on analysing the financial benefits and costs to wool growers of plain-bodied selective breeding, the transitioning process and the science of plain-bodied genetic breeding, would be invaluable to provide deeper analyses, given the increasing worldwide demand for wool from non-mulesed Australian Merino sheep.

‘Big picture’ of industry transition emerged

Dr Thornton said BG Economics independent survey of 97 wool growers and seven case studies provided a ‘big picture’ understanding of why and how growers made the transition.

The survey of 97 Australian wool growers in different states, climate zones and rainfall areas, found that:

  • 77.5pc completed the transition to plain-bodied Merinos (flystrike-resistant sheep) within five years and 42.7pc within two years,
  • 83.5pc say transitioning to plain-bodied Merinos is not costly,
  • 82pc have experienced increased lamb growth rates. Lambing percentage is also increased significantly,
  • 72.2pc experience <=0.5pc breech strike and 92.5pc <=0.5pc body strike,
  • 87.6pc receive a price premium for their unmulesed wool,
  • 84.1pc have experienced an increased return on investment,
  • 86.6pc would recommend to other woolgrowers to undertake the transition to plain-bodied Merinos,
  • 91.8pc believe animal welfare is improved by not mulesing sheep, and
  • 98pc say not mulesing is important for their farm’s future profitability.

FOUR PAWS Australia head of programs Jessica Medcalf said that while for decades there has been concern around the costs of transitioning away from mulesing, and the extensive amount of time it would take, it’s now time to lay these to rest.

“Times have changed and producers across the country are finding it possible, and financially profitable, to end their reliance on mulesing,” she said.

“Lambs suffer fear and stress, as well as acute pain for up to three days after being mulesed, while their wounds take weeks to heal.

“Furthermore, mulesing does not provide sheep with whole body protection from flystrike,” she said.

“It’s no wonder that collectively, hundreds of thousands of people globally have voiced their concern about mulesing, a concern which is only going to grow as people are increasingly interested in animal protection, and ethical fashion.

Report commissioned due to lack of industry research

HSI and FOUR PAWS said they commissioned the report in the absence of industry undertaking research into the viability of a genetic solution. It’s development was supported by a pilot group of wool producers keen to see change to protect the industry’s reputation and concerns around market access, as well as for the sake of animal welfare, the group said.

HSI’s animal welfare program manager, Georgie Dolphin, said the report results send a clear message that using good genetics as a flystrike management solution is effective, profitable, and a welfare win for millions of sheep.

“By incorporating good genetics all of the wool growers surveyed have shown it is possible to end both flystrike and mulesing.

“It is taking time to dispel the belief that genetic traits such as low wrinkle equals low profits, however the evidence in this report makes it clear that this is certainly not the case,” she said.

“Consumers are demanding better animal welfare and retailers such as Country Road Group, David Jones, Target, Kmart and Myer are increasingly adopting policies to source non-mulesed wool.

“This report shows producers can move with the times and solve an animal welfare problem without compromising profitability,” she said.

“As a first step, we encourage industry leaders to acknowledge that the genetic solution is the best way to manage flystrike sustainably, alongside adequate animal husbandry practices.”

Ms Dolphin said most growers surveyed claimed plain-bodied Merinos are more drought-tolerant and unlike mulesing, offers a whole body solution to flystrike.

The producers surveyed gave a number of key recommendations for making a successful transition, including:

  • becoming informed, by speaking to other growers who have successfully made the transition, or reading through information available,
  • preparing yourself mentally for a ‘mind shift’ and the need to be committed to see it through,
  • finding a stud breeder that aligns with your breeding direction, and
  • to aim for sheep types that are all-round fit for purpose.

Four main points emerged from the data about how the seven wool growers successfully transitioned away from wrinkly type Merinos to plain-bodied types.

  • The ‘mind shift’ to make it happen is the number one hurdle to making the change. When in doubt talk to producers who have already made the transition to plain-bodied sheep as they have the practical knowledge.
  • Be totally committed to the transition process. There can be an initial increase in fly pressure when mulesing is stopped and the wrinkle is bred out. This pressure is a manageable short-term part of the transition that will rapidly reduce as the last of the skin wrinkle disappears. The challenge is to have the patience to see the transition through.
  • Education is key. Attend workshops or other information sessions. An understanding of basic wool biology is essential to avoid a relapse to wrinkly sheep.
  • Buy rams from a stud that has stopped mulesing. Find the studs that align with your breeding direction and those that carefully consider skin and wool qualities. Aim for easier to manage sheep and better ‘do-ability’.

Breeding wrinkly sheep needing mulesing is ‘unsustainable’

Queensland Merino breeders Mark and Vicki Murphy – “If the industry doesn’t get its mind around what is required it will disappear.”

Central western NSW grower Chad Taylor said mulesing is no longer accepted by many of the retail brands that sell woollen products
and growers must evolve to accommodate this change in sentiment if they are to remain in business.

“Many still think we can tell our consumer what we are going to sell them, that they have to buy it, when of course they don’t,” he said.

South-eastern South Australian grower Chris Atkinson said each year people all over the world are saying more and more that they want wool from non-
mulesed sheep.

“To get ahead of the ball and have a product that will be in high demand in 5 or 10 years’ time start your breeding program now and don’t get left behind,” he said.

Central western NSW wool grower Nick Lyons said producers who choose to breed wrinkly type sheep that require mulesing have chosen an unsustainable enterprise.

“Having family in the buying side of the wool industry the most alarming comment is that companies are already making the investment to other wool
producing nations including Africa, Argentina, Russia and China in order to fill the NM gap and demand from consumers,” he said.

South-west Victorian ultrafine Merino wool producer David Rowbottom said he believed growers must be seen to do the right thing in the consumer’s eyes and mulesing must stop if we are to have a future and selective breeding is the best alternative in the long run.

“Improved wool quality to produce softer, more desirable product along with acceptable animal welfare practices is the only way forward.”

Wool grower and author of ‘Breaking the Sheep’s Back’ Charles Massey welcomed the report.

“This clearly confirms, first, that wool growers responding to customer demand for better animal welfare by eliminating mulesing find it profitable to do so; that transitioning to plain-bodied Merinos that don’t need mulesing is achievable within five years; and moreover, that this transition is not costly, that it leads to increased lamb-growth and weaning percentages, and delivers wool price premiums whilst being integral to their increased profitability.”

Click here to read the report – Towards a Non-Mulesed Future.

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Comments

  1. Edward H Wymer, August 7, 2020

    Great to see the end of mulesing, from an cruelty point of view. But don’t fall for the rubbish that the consumer is concerned about it, or that it will lead to higher prices for the grower long-term. Remember there is not a person in the world who can tell mulesed wool from unmulesed wool once it is off the sheep.

    • Jim Gordon, August 7, 2020

      Edward H Wymer, unless it is written on the swing tag on the garment. The modern consumer is wanting full disclosure/history of the garment. Farm to consumer, the whole story. The same as cotton, food etc, etc.

      • Edward H Wymer, August 8, 2020

        Jim Gordon, most consumers are aware that most product labels/swing tags are misleading. There have been many prosecutions with food, medicinal, chemicals, auto and building products. I have never heard of one in the clothing/fibre industry. There should have been many.

        • Jim Gordon, August 9, 2020

          Edward H. Wymer, so, what is the answer? We have to build trust and respect. Some of the brands in Europe are going to great lengths to get the whole story; ethical, sustainable, non-mulesed.
          China needs the same criteria to sell woollen apparel into Europe and America. The only way I know is to tell the truth. It’s easier to sell something that people want and they trust the information is correct.

  2. Courtney Sutherland, August 6, 2020

    I find it very interesting when an animal welfare organisation is used to give credence to a story. In this case Four Paws. A cursory look at their Australian 2018 financial report reveals they spent $1,377 on farm animals out of a total budget of $18,168.00. It’s an interesting lesson in perspective.

    • Isabella Auberger, August 7, 2020

      Hey Courtney,
      Four Paws is founded and has its head quarter in Vienna, Austria, where a whole team is also working on the anti-mulesing campaign. So not only the Australian office and colleagues are behind the topic.
      See: https://wollemitpo.vier-pfoten.at/ – in German but just to show you that Four Paws is working on topics together all over the world.:)
      Isabella

  3. Doug Wright, August 6, 2020

    The breeding of plain-bodied Merino sheep has many benefits, one of which is that they don’t need to be mulesed.
    Other benefits are high fertility and an ability to rear large numbers of lambs, no need to use chemical for flystrike control and to be easier to shear.
    In solving the mulesing issue by using the genetic solution, many other sheep issues are also resolved.
    In addition, Marketing 101, give the market the product what they want and give it better than your competitors.

  4. Paul Favaloro, August 6, 2020

    Thank you for bringing these results to the public. The number of respondents is small and may appear to be the tail wagging the dog.
    This would be a similar percentage as the WoolPoll survey.

    The wool growers providing this information are engaging with our customers, the processing sector, relaying their needs in supplying the consumer with what they are prepared to buy. As a wool producer, this is a financial benefit, for our sheep, it is a pain-free existence.

  5. Chick Olsson, August 5, 2020

    A very dodgy report indeed. Shame on all those wool growers who jumped into bed with these AR groups….

    • Doug Wright, August 10, 2020

      I would like to know what is dodgy about sheep producers showing the benefits that they have experienced from breeding Merino sheep that don’t not need mulesing?
      I would like the evidence that warrants this to be called dodgy.

  6. Glenn Nix, August 5, 2020

    You get in to bed with these activists and it will only encourage them. Most would not understand the difference between tailing and mulesing, or see the difference. You have already seen what PETA thinks of shearing. When they come for tailing will you roll over for them?

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