Sheep farmers flocking back to mulesing

February 4, 2013

By Jared Owens; The Australian

ALMOST a decade after animal rights activists secured a wool industry pledge to phase out mulesing, sheep farmers are returning to the controversial practice because buyers are refusing to pay more for their fleece.

Mulesing is the surgical removal of wrinkled skin around the breech of the sheep, which protects it from the debilitating and often fatal consequences of flystrike.