Sheep Welfare and the Practice of Mulesing in Australia

Statement from Jo Sharp Hand Knitting Yarns about the practice of mulesing in Australia

We at Jo Sharp Hand Knitting Yarns have given this matter a lot of consideration. Australian wool growers also take this matter very seriously.

It is clear that consumers are asking for growers to come up with a humane alternative to Mulesing. Alternatives are being developed as a matter of urgency in Australia.

The statement below indicates that the phasing out of Mulesing will be complete by 2010. At time of writing (09 June 09), a substantial number of Australian farmers have already made the change and most are moving in that direction rapidly as far as we understand. In NZ the fly strike problem is less (due to dramatically different weather conditions) and muelsing is not practiced widely, if at all. Jo Sharp uses wool from both Australia and NZ.

We recognise that muelsing can only be phased out when viable alternatives are available to farmers - if sheep are not muelsed and an alternative method is not practiced in the place of muelsing, animals can suffer a most unthinkable death with fly strike that can also affect the unborn lamb. Fly strike involves the maggots born from flies attacking the loose folds of skin around the tail area of the sheep and finding their way inside the animal.

We recommend our customers visit the Australian Wool Innovation website to find out more about the practice of Muelsing and also the alternatives being researched and developed.

We continue to use wool from Australia and New Zealand on the basis that we are assured that the practice of muelsing is being phased out by 2010, and sooner if possible with viable alternatives in place.

Jo Sharp

Visit Australian Wool Innovation (search mulesing) to find out more about mulesing.