Mulesing

There are no easy solutions to what is an historical problem of preventing and managing the damage caused by flystrike. In the past 80 years, a great deal of time, effort and research dollars have been invested to advance knowledge and help find the best ways to combat the problem.

The wool industry has recently stepped up its quest for new management practices and technologies that further improve animal health and welfare, and millions of dollars are being spent to improve prevention and control methods for flystrike. The industry's long-term aim is to continue to lead the world in the use of effective and efficient animal management systems.

Australian Wool Innovation AWI is taking a wide-ranging approach to the issue to ensure all avenues of control are considered - from the blowfly to the sheep. Every aspect is being addressed from a practical angle in an endeavour to provide the industry with a range of tools that effectively care for the health of sheep and eliminate the problem of flystrike.

Based on existing technology, mulesing and tail docking are the most practical, effective and humane methods of breech flystrike prevention currently available to Australian woolgrowers. Without these management tools a large number of sheep would die in years when conditions are conducive to flystrike.