Sheep health and management, their wellbeing and their economic value have been central to John Hutchinson his entire working life.
The retired shearer and educator believes he knows what should be done in the best interests of stock and the producers who rely on them.
“I take very seriously animal welfare … I do not like to see any animal suffer,” Mr Hutchinson says.
“And with that I say with no hesitation that if animal welfare groups were truly concerned about animal welfare they would be wanting to make mulesing compulsory.
One of the most beneficial things we can do for our sheep is to mules them.
- JOHN HUTCHINSON
“One of the most beneficial things we can do for our sheep is to mules them. Being a farmer and sheep shearer of 50-plus years, I have witnessed all too often the horrors of fly strike.
“This would have to be the worst thing that could happen to a live creature. Thousands, maybe millions, of sheep die from it … an extended, torturous death.’’
Mr Hutchinson knows his comments are controversial but says even advancements through selective breeding to eliminate wrinkly tails and body wrinkles and grow whiter wool were not as advantageous as mulesing in the battle against fly strike.
“Mulesing young lambs is quick ... they don’t anticipate it and they heal quickly.
“I’m not in favour of radical mulesing and only perform a moderate mules myself. A slice or two of skin quickly removed from a sheep is many times better than the onset of hungry maggots.’’