Mulesing is a surgical practice used on sheep farms in Australia that produce Merino Wool and consists of the removal of a portion of skin from the perianal area of the animals to prevent flyestrike.
Scientifically, this 'flyestrike' is called miasis which is an infectious disease transmitted to the animal by flies that deposit their eggs in the folds of the skin in the area near the anus. These eggs when they hatch become larvae that feed on the organic debris naturally present in those areas often causing severe infections that can easily lead to the death of the animal.
However, this practice is carried out on lambs without anaesthesia by clamping the animal with metal bars and cutting the scalp of skin from the area, including the tail often with garden shears. The animal is then left with the open, bleeding wound to heal in the air without any dressing.
It is obvious that some animals cannot stand this and die of infections, but in the context of large numbers this is irrelevant, and this treatment is cheaper anyway.
In Europe, this practice is banned, but Australia alone exports 90% of the world's Merino wool.
Sheep must be sheared once or twice a year for their well-being, and the relationship between the two species, human and sheep, has existed for thousands of years.
Wool is a valuable fibre with many properties, from which one can make warm, soft clothing or various household items, such as mattresses or blankets up to the covering of soap bars.
We believe it is important to return to a human dimension of rhythms and things and to remember that nature gives us everything we need, but we cannot mercilessly exploit it just because we feel entitled to do so.
