MID NORTH farmer Allen Kelly is urging sheep producers to get on the front foot when it comes to the mulesing debate.
He said they should share the positive stories on the gains farmers have made in progressing from radical mulesing following mainstream media reports this year put the issue back in the public eye.
"If we're doing the right thing for the animal, we benefit, and the whole business benefits," Allen said.
"We need to stop looking at the downside of the issue, that this could be another thing we're not allowed to do. Rather than look at the negative, we need to look at the positive side."
Allen runs Glen Holme Dohne and Poll Merino studs at his Manoora, South Australia, property.
He fears some media reports may be used by self-interest groups as ammunition against farmers.
"In one report, the footage they showed was like something out of the 1970s, when large amounts of skin were taken off," he said.
"We need to do what we can to correct this perception."
Allen says his bare-breech animals are sought as a better alternative and choice to mulesing.
"While initially stemming from a response to perceived animal cruelty and the associated pressure from lobby groups, it has become part of the holistic approach to farm business management," he said.
Choosing not to use a radical mules has actually resulted in an improved growth response in lambs.
In 1995 he decided to breed easier-care Poll Merinos with a greater ability to thrive, and with less intensive-labour input.
"The benefit was the evolution of a more robust-carcase animal with less need for artificial inputs, for example grain feeding to prepare surplus stock for market readiness," he said.
"A move towards breeding Dohne Merinos from 2005 has greatly accelerated this change, particularly where Dohne genetics have been utilised.
"While the Dohne genetics have assisted with improving bare breeches within that flock, good progress is also being made with the Poll Merinos.
"Results from the autumn 2012 lamb marking of Poll Merino's showed that less than 7 per cent of ewes needed the mulesing operation."
Allen says there is now "very minimal" mulesing on his farm.
"Standard procedure at Glen Holme usually means that after tail-docking, a small wedge of skin each side of the tail stump is removed (light tail stripping) so that management care of each animal for its whole lifetime is made much easier," he said.
It is immediately after this that pain relief is applied, usually within 20 seconds of starting the operation.
"This means that on a technicality, 'mulesing' has taken place," he said.
"In practice however, for the animal significantly lower pain is a result due to diminished area that requires healing. And over and above that, the scar tissue is not located over leg muscles that are moved with each step the lamb has to take until healing is complete. This is believed to be the major reason why improved growth patterns have been observed post-marking."
- Full report in Stock Journal, July 11 issue, 2013.