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M.R. Subramani

Chennai , Nov. 15

MULESING, a method of removing the skin on lamb's back particularly near the tail area, could be phased out completely in Australia by 2010.

A scientific solution is on cards to end the painful process done on lambs and the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is carrying out research and development to end this, according to Mr Peter McGauran, Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

"We are confident of meeting the target even before 2010. Millions of dollars have been invested to find a solution," he told Business Line. Mr McGauran was here in connection with Australia's participation in Foodpro 2005.

Already, AWI has come up with an alternative of a simple clip to mulesing. The clipping has been found to be less stressful to the lambs.

Mulesing is usually done a few weeks after the lamb's birth. The skin is surgically removed from near the tail region in a painful process that lasts hardly for a couple of minutes. This is to ensure that the animals are not affected by flystrike.

Mulesing is done to avoid the back of the sheep from being fouled by either faeces or urine. The area where mulesing is done becomes smooth. Otherwise, flystrike could result in flies leaving parasites to feed on the animals' live tissue in the area.

"Merino sheep have lot of wool at the rear. Therefore, this is curious problem. While mulesing is painful, leaving the area like that will make lamb vulnerable to flystrike," Mr McGauran said.

Flystrike could result in the death of the lamb.

AWI has begun a series of steps since November 2004 to find alternatives to mulesing but at the same time, it has also initiated legal proceedings against PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals).

"PETA is in retreat. Its campaign is faltering. A call has been made for open and transparent examination of its tactics," Mr McGauran said.

Australia has also taken other initiatives to tackle PETA campaign against its wool exports. "We have taken our European and North American customers into confidence. They are supportive of AWI initiative," he said.

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