Editing Mulesing (section)

==Comparison to crutching==
Mulesing is different from [[crutching]]. Crutching is the mechanical removal of wool around the tail and [[anus]] (and [[vulva]] in ewes) in breeds of sheep with woolly points where this is necessary. Mulesing is the removal of skin to provide permanent resistance to breech strike in [[Merino]] sheep. Other breeds tend to have less loose skin and wool so close to the tail, and may have less dense wool.

Crutching has to be repeated at regular intervals as the wool grows continuously. Frequent crutching of Merinos reduces the incidence of flystrike, but not as much as mulesing.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}