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CLEVER SCIENCE REVOLUTIONISES WOOL INDUSTRY Photo: Dr Jim Watts Merino sheep were originally ‘plain-breeched’, with no wrinkles or wool on their buttocks. But the Vermont Merino Rams introduced from America in 1883 had folds of skin along their perineal region to increase surface area and yield more wool. Unfortunately, the arrival of a major new fly species (Lucilia cuprina) causing ‘fly strike’ which coupled with Australia's warm climatic conditions gave wool producers a serious, ongoing problem. Then in 1931 a South Australian sheep farmer named Mr John Mules developed the mulesing operation where wrinkly skin aroundthe breech area and tail is removed using a knife and usually no pain relief. Although many farmers were repelled by its apparent cruelty, the majority adopted the method due to its success at preventing strike. Cruel and illegal The procedure is not common in other sheep farming countries and illegal in most. In Australia it has become standard practice, but with hefty animal welfare implications associated with it, the wool industry is now under pressure to change its ways. Numerous studies over the years haved searched for alternative methods for fly strike prevention, but a cost effective solution is yet to be adopted. Sheep farmers are now finding themselves under pressure to produce wool from un-mulesed sheep as consumers are becoming more aware of the cruelty aspects and Australia is losing market share for not addressing the problem. Recently a petition has been backed by some 70% of the world’s wool processors calling for pain relief to be made mandatory when mulesing is carried out. Lower prices are also being offered for wool from mulesed sheep. Around 20% of Australian lambs are given pain relief (Tri-Solfen) however many are concerned this provides an inadequate level of pain relief. Farmers claim there are no alternatives for their sheep. Fortunately, there is a simple solution that could revolutionise the Australian wool industry following years of research by veterinarian and former CSIRO scientist, Dr Jim Watts. The fact that the typical wrinkly skin of Merino sheep are more likely to get struck than ‘plainbodied’ sheep means that through genetic selection, sheep can be bred which are resistant to fly strike. Genetic selection producing disease resistance Through careful genetic selection, animals can be bred that do not require mulesing—this approach has already been adopted in every Australian state using the Soft Rolling Skin or SRS system developed by Dr Watts. And contrary to industry criticism, this genetic solution can produce plain-bodied disease resistant sheep within five years, sometimes as rapidly as just three years. “These mules-free Merino sheep are already out there in largenumbers and are naturally resistant to all forms of flystrike, including the most severe and challenging body strike outbreaks during wet summers. Genetically there is not Buyers and retailers are voting with their order books a problem in reaching the five year goal. The problem I come up against is persuading Merino wool producers that genetically, there is not a problem,” said Dr Watts. Hecontinues, “There is no reduction in wool quality and quantity, in fact we have observed improvements, and definitely the environmental fitness and fecundity of these animals have improved.” Currently 7% of Australian wool is produced without mulesing and unfortunately the culture adopted by most Australian wool farmers to maintain mulesing as their go-to solution against flystrike is strong. However, if the wool industry does not act fast there’s a severe risk that buyers and retailers will go elsewhere in the world to avoid the welfare related issues associated with Australian wool. HSI is working with Dr Watts to develop Responsible Merino Sheep Standards specifically for the Australian environment. The techniques which are set to make up these standards have already shown impressive results— not only can they produce mules-free, plain-bodied sheep, they can also eliminate the need for tail docking, improve heat, humidity and cold tolerance, improve productivity and feed conversion efficiency, make for easier shearing and more. Ground-breaking Australian ingenuity These ground-breaking genetic techniques would revolutionise sheep farming by eliminating the need to perform any painful techniques, thereby advancing the welfare of Australia's Merinos immensely. HSI works directly with fashion houses to build the market 1,200 farms are already working with Dr Watts and their sheep are producing 2 million kilos of wool each year. We plan to work with him to get as many Australian wool farmers on board as possible over the coming months. HSI has also beenworking with high street fashion companies such as H&M to pursue industry-wide policy change such as national legislative bans on cruel farming practices, including mulesing, live-plucking and force-feeding. HSI will be bringing five major European wool buyers to Australia later this year to secure deals for this cruelty-free product that will enable them to put wool back on the catwalks. HSI PROGRAM MANAGER • GEORGIE STEWART 7