MORE than a decade after the Merino sector backed away from a proposed industry-wide target to phase out mulesing, the divide among mules and unmulesed woolgrowers is still evident, but it seems most have accepted the inevitable path ahead.
With just 17 per cent of Australia's wool recognised as non-mulesed, it shows progress is certainly stagnant, but increased requests from woolgrowers for support to reduce their reliance on mulesing suggests something is changing, says Australian Wool Innovation chairman Jock Laurie.
"AWI recognises the critical importance of all flystrike prevention measures and continues to support all woolgrowers in their choices through provision of a diversity of best practice information," he said.
So 12 years on from some of the topic's most heated discussions to-date, this is where industry is situated.
It was a key finding of the June 2021 AWI and Meat & Livestock Australia Wool and Sheep Meat Survey, that a comprehensive 42pc of respondents currently mulesing intended to cease the practice in the next five years.
The National Wool Declaration figures are showing that in the 2013-14 season, less than 10pc of growers had transitioned to a non-mulesed enterprise, with that figure growing to 17pc as of the 2021-22 season.
So is there a lack of understanding in the sector about how to move toward phasing out the practice?
Vic-based livestock genetics consultant Belinda Steers says this is likely.
Ms Steers offers advice to woolgrowers across the county who are trying to transition to a non-mulesed flock and said most were "owning" it as the way forward, but needed greater support.
"In the past five years, studs have transitioned dramatically and the divide is slightly reducing," she said.
"The angst is somewhat disappearing."
Being stonewalled when bringing up the topic is not as common, according to Ms Steers, but guidance to phase it out was less common.
"We need someone to take the lead on it," she said.
"For those who want to go mules-free, they need technical advice at an industry level.
"We do not have a national objective for running livestock, that is pretty sad."
Frank discussions about mulesing are happening and the use of pain relief has become a central component of that discussion.
All territories and states are yet to follow Vic's lead on pain relief mandates that were introduced in July 2020, but Merino SA president Joe Dahlitz, Roemahkita, Cummins, said anecdotally, about 90pc of SA woolgrowers used pain relief.
"There's been a lot of effort by woolgrowers to do this," he said.
"The industry is also looking into alternative methods, such as laser treatment and fly sterilising."
Though this may be a shift in focus, there is still no "silver bullet" to ease the debate, according to Mr Dahlitz.
Non-mulesed wool premiums are said to provide growers with some additional incentive, but Mr Dahlitz said in some cases, it was yet to be realised.
"The premium for wool is about 2-4pc, but non-mulesed Merino ewes are often discounted by up to $40 a head."
The definition of mulesing was coined in 1936.
Mr Dahlitz is advocating for the original definition to be reinstated.
"There is a need to clarify and reinstate the original definition of mulesing," he said.
According to Mr Dahlitz, a non-mulesed status can still be gained by producers even after removing tail skin with a 'hot knife', as long as shears are not used.
"This definition needs to be cleared up so producers have clearer direction," he said.
Spearheading non-mulesed wool practices in SA was Leahcim stud principal Andrew Michael, Snowtown, who ceased the practice in 2004.
"We had support from industry, but we worked with scientists to make genetic selections to transition," he said.
"I could see no reason to continue the practice - losing four kilograms of weight from mulesing was enough to change.
"Making correct genetic selections without negative impacts is crucial and you need guidance."
The tools are available to producers and according to Mr Michael, regardless of what industry says, the "world is changing".
"Wool production has been the driver for change and the sector will most likely remain segregated over that," he said.
Corporate companies are changing product needs, Mr Michael says and its driving the sector's future direction.
About 40 global brands have already signed on the dotted line to see the wool sector transition away from mulesing, after Four Paws advocacy group penned a brand Letter of Intent nine months ago.
Wool campaign leader Rebecca Picallo Gil said brands were increasingly reaching out to the group for consultation about improving animal welfare in their supply chains.
"Mulesing is often the entry topic and one of the main animal welfare concerns for brands," she said.
"More than 300 brands want to see a transition towards certified mulesing-free wool."
But the sector's slow transition is causing a challenge for brands to source certified mulesing-free Merino wool, Ms Picallo Gil said, and therefore more brands were looking into alternative materials.
South Gap Pastoral's Kate Greenfield, via Port Augusta, believes its an "appalling" situation for woolgrowers and plans to cease Merino wool production this year.
"We cannot get shearers and after 140 years of Merino production, we will move into shedding sheep to counteract that," she said.
"But the opinion of mulesing being a bad practice does not take in animal welfare and what it can provide," she said.
"In extensive grazing conditions, mulesing is a matter of animal health."
Ms Greenfield expected the market for mulesed wool to inevitability shrink, despite the use of pain relief.