US Retailers Investigate Mulesing in Australia

Sounds like they may roll over on the issue. I don't know, but I'm just not convinced the Australians are that committed to phasing out this practice. I'm just going by equivalent examples in the US. Big industry never wants to change anything that "works."

It's just too "hard."

US Retailers Concerned Over Australia's Delay in Ending Mulesing

Ugh. Such an awful practice. But, as is typical with many large industries, there is a resistance to change unless there is a clear and immediate profit windfall. Why change for welfare purposes if there is no clear economic benefit? I think it's just another example of short-term vs. long-term thinking, to which all humans are victim.

From the Sydney Morning Herald...

Macy's, Gap and Liz Claiborne Inc are among the big names to warn of their ''growing alarm'' and frustration over the backdown by the marketing and research body Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) from its promise in 2005 to replace mulesing with a commercially viable alternative by the end of this year.

Mulesing, in which woolgrowers surgically remove parts of merino lambs' rears to prevent potentially fatal flystrike, has sparked demonstrations and litigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The American retailers are worried that Australia's ditching of its own 2010 deadline to end the practice may reignite protest: ''We are concerned about what future action PETA may decide to launch if the issue remains unresolved,'' the vice-president and international trade counsel of the National Retail Federation, Erik Autor told the Herald.

More on Mulesing

From The Age:

Animal rights activists intend ramping up their international campaign against Australian wool after producers indicated they would not stick to a deadline for phasing out mulesing.

The controversial practice - in which folds of skin are cut from a sheep's rear to prevent fly and maggot infestation - was due to end by 2010.

But a national vote of producers has elected a group of pro-mulesing directors to control Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

Now PETA and others are upset about this because the new directors say they won't be held to deadlines.

Aussie Wool Producers Fight Back Against Anti-Mulesing Campaign

PETA has been waging a campaign against mulesing by Australian Wool producers. Mulesing, according to Wikipedia is this:

Mulesing is the surgical removal of strips of wool-bearing wrinkle skin from around the breech of a sheep.[1] [2] Mulesing is common practice in Australia as a way to reduce the incidence of flystrike on Merino sheep in regions where flystrike is common.

Now, Australian wool producers agree that there should be alternatives, and have agreed to phase it out. PETA, however, has continuued its boycott campaign. Australian wool producers are pushing back.

Mr Perry, along with rugby league star Nathan Hindmarsh, Myer, country music singers Gina Jeffreys, Shannon Noll and John Williamson want PETA to stop attacking wool farmers.

Mr Perry, the judge of Australia's Next Top Model, said executives sitting in offices overseas like New York should not be making a decision to boycott goods without all the facts.

He used Australian wool in his recent winter collection and vowed to continue to use it in the future.

"Wool is a huge export and the rest of the world gets our best, but PETA goes to the extreme and it doesn't understand how it impacts on our industry," he said.

Looks like PETA just convinced Adidas to join the boycott.

Mulesing From a Farmer's Perspective

Australia has faced boycotts of wool products over a practice called Mulesing, which involves cutting a patch of skin on lambs to prevent flystrike.

Here is a site from an Australian farmer that explains why they do what they do, and what the alternatives can be. Faced with boycotts, farmers will have a tougher time going with the more expensive alternatives to the practice.