Editing Mulesing (section)

{{Short description|Sheep husbandry practice}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

'''Mulesing''' is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech ([[buttocks]]) of a [[sheep]] to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike ([[myiasis]]).<ref name="Model Code">
{{cite book
|url = http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/22/pid/5389.htm
|title = The Sheep
|edition = 2nd
|series = Primary Industries Report Series
|pages = 17–23
|work = Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals
|publisher = [[CSIRO]] Publishing
|author = Primary Industries Ministerial Council
|year=2006 |access-date=2008-03-01
|isbn = 0-643-09357-5}}</ref> The wool around the buttocks can retain feces and urine, which attracts flies. The scar tissue that grows over the wound does not grow wool, so is less likely to attract the flies that cause flystrike. Mulesing is a common practice in [[Australia]] for this purpose, particularly on highly wrinkled [[Merino]] sheep.<ref name="Model Code"/> Mulesing is considered by some to be a skilled [[surgical]] task.<ref name="DPI SOP">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare/general/other/livestock/sop/sheep/mulesing
 |title       = Standard Operating Procedures – sheep Mulesing
 |publisher   = New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
 |access-date  = 2008-03-01
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070906155137/http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare/general/other/livestock/sop/sheep/mulesing
 |archive-date = 6 September 2007
}}</ref> Mulesing can only affect flystrike on the area cut out and has no effect on flystrike on any other part of the animal's body.

Mulesing is a controversial practice. The [[National Farmers Federation]] of Australia says that "mulesing remains the most effective practical way to eliminate the risk of 'flystrike' in sheep" and that "without mulesing up to 3,000,000 sheep a year could die a slow and agonising death from flystrike".<ref name="NFF">{{cite web|url=http://www.nff.org.au/get/2432305991.doc|title=Mulesing of Sheep|publisher=National Farmers Federation|access-date=2008-09-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829232718/http://www.nff.org.au/get/2432305991.doc|archive-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> The [[Australian Veterinary Association]] (AVA) "recognises the welfare implications of mulesing of sheep. However, in the absence of more humane alternatives for preventing breech strike, the AVA accepts that the practice of mulesing should continue as a sheep husbandry procedure". The AVA also supports the use of [[analgesic]]s and the accreditation of mulesing practitioners.<ref name="AVA">{{cite web
 |url         = http://avacms.eseries.hengesystems.com.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=6301
 |title       = AVA policies
 |publisher   = Australian Veterinary Association
 |access-date  = 2008-09-10
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080801010544/http://avacms.eseries.hengesystems.com.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search
 |archive-date = 1 August 2008
}}</ref> The [[RSPCA Australia|Australian Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] accepts mulesing when the risk of flystrike is very high, when it is done properly, and even then only as a last resort.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is mulesing and what are the alternatives?|url=http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-mulesing-and-what-are-the-alternatives_113.html|date=30 April 2010|access-date=12 April 2011|publisher=[[RSPCA Australia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121030753/http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-mulesing-and-what-are-the-alternatives_113.html|archive-date=21 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[animal rights]] organisation [[PETA]] strongly opposes mulesing, says the practice is cruel and painful, and that more humane alternatives exist,<ref name="AGE_ridicule">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Hogan |title=Farmers ridicule US wool ban |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/15/1097784011310.html |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location= Melbourne|date=15 October 2004 |access-date=2008-03-01 }}</ref> and claim that sheep can be spared maggot infestation through more humane methods, including special diets, spray washing, and breeding different kinds of sheep.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/mulesing.aspx|title=Mulesing by the Wool Industry|date=22 June 2010 }}</ref> Sheep after mulesing are noted to have markedly elevated levels of the hormones [[cortisol]] and [[β-endorphin]],{{Efn|Approximately 220% and 300% the amount of cortisol and β-endorphin concentration in plasma, respectively, than in the control.<ref name="Fell & Shutt 1989" />}} respectively associated with [[Stress hormone|stress]] and [[pain]].<ref name="Fell & Shutt 1989">{{Cite journal |last=Fell |first=L.R. |last2=Shutt |first2=D.A. |date=April 1989 |title=Behavioural and hormonal responses to acute surgical stress in sheep |journal=[[Applied Animal Behaviour Science]] |volume=22 |issue=3–4 |pages=283–294 |doi=10.1016/0168-1591(89)90023-3}}</ref>

In July 2009, representatives of the Australian [[wool]] industry scrapped an earlier promise, made in November 2004, to phase out the practice of mulesing in Australia by 31 December 2010.<ref name="Model Code"/><ref name=Countryman-2009-07>{{cite web
 |title       = AWI scraps mulesing deadline
 |url         = http://www.countryman.com.au/article/2581.html
 |author      = Bob Garnant
 |work        = Countryman
 |publisher   = West Australian Newspapers Pty Ltd
 |date        = 30 July 2009
 |access-date  = 2010-01-18
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091018045528/http://www.countryman.com.au/article/2581.html
 |archive-date = 18 October 2009
}}</ref><ref name="AWGA2004">{{cite web | url=http://www.australianwoolgrowers.com.au/news2004/news081104.html | title = In the News | date = 8 November 2004 | access-date = 2007-01-09 | author = Peter Wilkinson | publisher = Australian Wool Growers Association |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060924000727/http://www.australianwoolgrowers.com.au/news2004/news081104.html |archive-date = 24 September 2006}}</ref> The [[New Zealand]] industry began phasing out mulesing in 2007, and a ban of mulesing sheep officially came into effect from 1 October 2018.<ref name="New Zealand prohibits the practice of mulesing in sheep – Farm Online">{{cite news|last1=Frost|first1=Kristen|title=New Zealand farmers on the ball with bare breech breeding|url=https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/5635654/new-zealand-bans-mulesing/|date=4 September 2018|work=New Zealand prohibits the practice of mulesing in sheep Farm Online|agency=Farm Online|access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref>