Australian Wool Farmers Face Prison for Mulesing

		Australian animal rights group Animal Liberation (Victoria) has come up with an eye-catching way to bring attention to the cruelty of mulesing. © Erik Gorton

Wool farmers could face a year in prison for mulesing sheep under a new law, the National Animal Welfare Bill, proposed by Australian Democrats and introduced by Senator Andrew Bartlett.

“Mulesing” is a crude practice in which farmers flip lambs onto their backs, restrain them between metal bars, and use gardening shears to cut large chunks of skin and flesh from the area around the animals’ rumps without any painkillers whatsoever. Mulesing is a dirty and cheap attempt to reduce the likelihood of maggot infestation, which results when blowflies, attracted to accumulated waste in the folds of skin under the sheep’s tail, lay eggs there.

The new bill calls for the immediate end of mulesing and a fine of A$30,000 or one year’s imprisonment for anyone who performs the horrific procedure. It is currently before a Senate committee, which will make recommendations on accepting it within the next three months.

Contrary to industry claims, there are more sophisticated and humane methods available for farmers to use, including blowfly control, increased monitoring of flocks during blowfly season, and the breeding of sheep less susceptible to flystrike. Yet, most Australian farmers still choose to mutilate lambs each year simply because it’s the cheapest, easiest thing to do. The deciding committee has already received more than 200 written submissions, most in favor of the proposal.

You Can Help!
Write to Australian government officials and urge them to vote in favor of the bill. Watch video footage of sheep abuse in the Australian wool industry. Find out more ways to help save the sheep.