Surgical mulesing
Ratification Date: 18 Jun 2009
Position statement
Blowfly strike is a serious animal welfare concern. Alternative methods of fly strike management and blowfly control that do not involve surgical removal of skin from the breech region are available and should be used and further developed.
Until mulesing is ceased:
- all lambs being mulesed should be treated with approved analgesics to minimise the pain associated with the procedure
- operators carrying out the mulesing procedure should be accredited
References
- Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep - Chapter 7, Mulesing. Available at: http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/sheep/
Ratified by the AVA Board: 18 June 2009 (Board revision May, 2013)