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Strategies to move to a non-mulesed flock and pain relief options for those that continue with the practice will be up for discussion when Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) roll out their popular series of It’s Ewe Time forums across Queensland on August 21-23.
AWI Genetics and Animal Welfare Advocacy Program Manager Geoff Lindon will discuss animal welfare market signals and moving to a non-mulesed enterprise when he presents at Longreach, Tambo and Mitchell.
Mr Lindon says the wool supply chain is seeking increasing transparency regarding welfare practices and completing an accurate National Wool Declaration (NWD) is the best way for woolgrowers to ensure they’re meeting these customer needs.
“There’s now a small discount in the market for wools that are not declared,” he said.
“It’s best to consult with your wool broker so you fill out the NWD accurately.”
Declaring use of pain relief, as well as being non-mulesed to the supply chain are two other musts, according to Mr Lindon.
“There are small premiums in the marketplace for using pain relief and the woolgrower largely gets his money back for pain relief products,” he said.
“The premium for non-mulesed wool is increasing and is now about 40 to 50 cents a kilogram clean depending on micron category.”
After conducting a case study of 40 sheep enterprises which moved from mulesed to non-mulesed, Mr Lindon said planning was key to a successful transition and to “rebalancing” the other tools available to reduce the risk of flystrike.
“Those enterprises that have sat back and planned have been more successful at making that transition,” he said.
“It’s important to get your sheep type right before you cease mulesing, breech strike is strongly correlated with breech wrinkle so it’s important to get the wrinkle down but while you’re taking the wrinkle down it’s also important to also improve productivity.
“You’ve got to try and keep your fleece weight and pick up on more lambs from the lower wrinkle animals in the initial stages. If you get your sheep right first it does reduce the risk of increases in flystrike.”
For producers still mulesing, Mr Lindon said there were three main pain relief options: local anaesthetic Tri-Solfen, and Meloxicam products, Buccalgesic (delivered by a gel applied inside a sheep’s mouth) and Metacam (delivered by subcutaneous injection).
“The message is to consult your local veterinarian for the best advice on which pain relief product best suits your operation,” he said.
“We have done research trials that clearly show the pain relief options work. The local anaesthetic works a bit quicker and the anti-inflammatory drugs work a bit later, so they provide similar amounts of pain relief but at different stages.”
Mr Lindon says the It’s Ewe Time forums will be a good chance for producers to receive the latest industry advice and information, as well as discuss pertinent issues and topics with other local sheep producers.
Other speakers at the Queensland forums include Sprout Agribusiness Managing Partner Brecken Curtis, QLD Department of Agriculture & Fisheries Beef and Sheep Extension Officer Andrea McKenzie and MLA Genetics Program Manager Hamish Chandler.
The forums will be held on:
- Tuesday August 21: Longreach, QLD – Stockman’s Hall of Fame
- Wednesday August 22: Tambo, QLD – Tambo Shire Hall
- Thursday August 23: Mitchell QLD – Mitchell Shire Hall
Details: Find out more and register at www.makingmorefromsheep.com.au/events or call 1800 070 099.
For media enquiries contact:
Geoff Lindon, p: 0427 572 228, e: [email protected]
Josh McIntosh, MLA Media Manager, p: 0404 055 490, e: [email protected]
Elissa Lewis, AWI Media Relations Manager, p: 02 8295 3124, e: [email protected]
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