It's more than Just a Business
Media
Q1. Background on wool organisations
Answer:
Australian Wool Innovation Australian Wool Innovation was given the priority task of finding alternatives to the current mulesing practice. AWI invests in global R&D, innovation and marketing through the entire wool pipeline – from farm to fashion house – in the areas of wool production, textile product development, marketing and industry affairs. Established in 2001, AWI is a not-for-profit company owned by more than 29,000 Australian farmers. Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce The members of the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce include: National Farmers' Federation, WoolProducers Australia, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, The Woolmark Company, Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia, and LiveCorp – and the AWI. |
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Q2. Agreement with PETA and Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce
Answer:
Download the PDF of the agreement with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). |
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Q3. Mulesing backgrounder
Answer:
What is mulesing? Mulesing is carried out on merino lambs at lamb marking. Mulesing confers lifetime protection in regions where a unique and very aggressive blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) causes what is known as flystrike. The standard mules requires the surgical removal of a "V" of wool-bearing skin extending one-third of the length of the tail, which is docked below the third palpable joint. What is flystrike? Blowfly strike (cutaneous myiasis) in sheep is defined as the invasion and feeding on living tissues of humans or animals by dipterous (fly) larvae. It causes misery and death in sheep if not protected. Flystrike occurs where the fleece has become soiled or infected The wool of a sheep with active fleece rot or a soiled breech harbours seething masses of bacteria. This provides an environment somewhat similar to that found in a fairly fresh carcase. Some of the more opportunistic flies, Lucilia cuprina in particular, have been able to make the transition from breeding on carcases to developing on suitable live sheep. The ammonia in urine is particularly attractive to the flies, and the young larvae can become established where the skin of the sheep has become irritated by the urine. Fly eggs, once laid, hatch within a few hours or days. The emerging larvae or maggots are very active and secrete enzymes that liquefy the skin and flesh of the sheep upon which they are feeding. Larvae feed for a variable time period depending on the availability of food. The mature maggots crawl off the fleece and pupate in the soil. In suitable weather conditions in the summer it takes less than a week for the fly to emerge, but often it is two or three weeks. With flies laying thousands of eggs, it is easy to see why the population of blowflies increases so rapidly with the right weather conditions. Sheep die from septicaemia and toxaemia Sheep suffering from flystrike show obvious signs of distress. They spend less time grazing and more time tail wagging and rubbing the affected area and biting the struck areas of the fleece they can reach. If these signs go unrecognised and secondary strike occurs, the wounds can become very extensive and bacterial infection may lead to serious complications such as death from septicaemia and toxaemia. When sheep are examined there is often a foul smell from the wound and visible signs of maggots. These flies cost the Australian sheep industry well over $100 million per year in deaths, lost production and treatment costs. But more importantly they cause pain, misery and often death to infected sheep. Australian sheep blowfly present in 96% of all strikes Australian sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) is the primary sheep blowfly responsible for initiating most blowfly strikes. Hairy maggot fly (Chrysomya rufifacies) is a secondary blowfly that will only strike sheep after the Australian sheep blowfly has initiated a strike. Blowflies thrive in warm, humid conditions. A large scale survey in the late 1970s, in which flies were bred from over 1400 strikes around Victoria, found that the green blowfly or Australian sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) was present in 96% of all strikes and was the only species present in more than 50% of these. Not only does it initiate most strikes, it is the main species involved in their continuation. |
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Q4. Welfare considerations with mulesing
Answer:
The wool industry has standards for the conduct of this procedure, which are outlined in the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Sheep setting out guidelines for minimum standards for care required to meet obligations under the laws that operate in Australia’s states and territories. It covers important practices governing welfare including protection from disease. AVA considers mulesing necessary The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recognises that flystrike is particularly painful for the sheep as maggots eat the live flesh of the animal. “Mulesing is an animal husbandry practice currently used to prevent flystrike in sheep, which the AVA considers to be necessary in terms of the overall welfare of the sheep likely to be affected by flystrike.” RSPCA accepts mulesing is a necessary sheep husbandry procedure The Australian Government and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Australia accept the practice of mulesing as a necessary sheep husbandry procedure to prevent flystrike. Some animal welfare advocates strongly oppose mulesing, and say the practice is cruel and painful, and that more humane alternatives exist; however, estimates suggest that without mulesing more than 3 million sheep would die each year. |
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Q5. The alternatives
Answer:
AWI vigorous in researching alternatives The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Board is vigorously researching alternatives to surgical mulesing in support of the industry’s commitment to the phasing out of surgical mulesing by 31 December 2010 and fully endorses the use of pain relief in the interim. Pain relief There is currently a product to apply post-mulesing that provides extended pain relief, helps to prevent blood loss and improves healing. RSPCA Australia has said it sees the mulesing pain relief spray as a positive interim measure but still strongly supports the complete phase-out of mulesing and replacement of mulesing with other approaches to managing flystrike in Australian sheep. Researchers are also looking at pre-mulesing pain relief options. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) recently released a study co-authored by CSIRO Livestock Industries scientists, David Paull, Dr Caroline Lee, Dr Ian Colditz, Dr Steve Atkinson and Dr Andrew Fisher. According to Dr Fisher, "Lambs that received the analgesic carprofen 90 minutes before mulesing, combined with a proprietary local anaesthetic spray, exhibited fewer of the pain responses we expect to see following mulesing, such as hunched backs and stiff walking. Most significantly they showed much lower levels of cortisol in their blood than lambs treated other ways." Mulesing alternatives The AWI is looking at alternatives that deal with flystrike through treatment of the breech area. The focus of the research and development is in three main areas:
Source: www.woolinnovation.com.au The future The AWI is also supporting programs into longer-term solutions, which include: This involves exploiting a possible genetic mutation where the crutch and inner hind legs are completely wool-free. Similarly, the possibility of breeding breech-strike resistant sheep through gradual improvement is being investigated. This involves overcoming resistance to Insect Growth Regulator chemicals, including improved management to limit resistance and identifying alternative chemical classes. This includes looking at a worm that invades flies and kills them, and a fungus that attacks insects and kills them. Stock and Land (10 May 2007) reported that a Victorian woolgrower, Len Love, believes European wasps are dramatically reducing the population of blowflies, namely lucilia caprina – the fly responsible for flystrike in sheep – and has noticed a massive drop in the frequency of flystrike on his property. The article also quoted NSW Agriculture entomologist, Garry Levot, saying while the European wasp does predate on all blowfly species, it was unlikely to be having a significant impact on blowfly numbers. The AWI is conducting a long-term program, the Blowfly Genome Project, which aims to identify any weaknesses in the insect to enable specific chemicals to be developed to target these. |
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Q6. Better Choices Audit program
Answer:
The risk of not mulesing many merino lambs could present an even worse welfare outcome than seen with traditional mulesing. There is a real risk that more than 3 million lambs annually will face misery, pain and potentially death if not mulesed. Under the Better Choices Audited Welfare program, Australian woolgrowers are successfully adopting the use of pain relief at mulesing. Pain relief The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has approved the use of this topical anaesthetic antiseptic solution for pain relief in sheep. It is formulated with a number of actives to work to reduce the trauma associated with mulesing. It is used to quickly anaesthetise the wound to reduce pain in the post-operative period. It has also been developed to reduce blood loss and infection in order to improve wound healing. Livestock producers are generally aware that improving the welfare of their livestock leads to an improvement in productivity. When applied as it directed its active ingredients work to manage the pain and stress of mulesing. Auditing and certification The Better Choices brand certifies wool to the market where pain relief has been used. To join the Better Choices Audited Welfare program woolgrowers must use pain relief on all the mulesed lambs on their property. Only then can they register their wool under the Better Choices program. The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) in October 2007 added to the industry-recognised list the Quality Scheme known as BETTER CHOICES relating to pain-free mulesing. Download a copy of the December 2007 Members' update or visit the AWEX website for the latest updates. A certificate accompanies their wool under the Better Choices brand and assures both retailers and consumers that their animal welfare concerns regarding humane treatment of lambs are being addressed. International support National Retail Federation and US apparel retailers In May 2007 The National Retail Federation (NRF) and US apparel retailers said they “are very pleased with the progress that the Australian wool industry is making to implement the commitments on the phase-out of mulesing”, NRF Vice-President and International Trade Counsel Erik Autor said. “We also acknowledge progress on the development for the commercial market of new, efficacious, widely available and easily administered analgesics in fulfilment of Point 6 of the Declaration of Commitments,” Autor said. “For example, we have been informed about Better Choices, a pain-relief auditing program for mulesing initiated by Bayer Healthcare Australia, and have shared that information with our members. “Due to the actions undertaken so far by the Australian wool industry, we look forward with confidence to further progress on this issue,” Autor said. Link to PR release International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) Australia's leading rural newspaper The Land on 20 March 2008 quoted International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) president, Gunther Beier: "At the end of the day, it is absolutely essential for the Australians to understand they need to apply this pain-relieving method (Tri-Solfen) which, I think, would solve the problem at least in the interim. And if that were legislated, I think, that would go a long way towards resolving the concerns." PETA The use of pain relief is also a key element in the Declaration between PETA and the Australian Wool Innovation Board: “… encourage the development, approval and use of products to provide relief from pain associated with mulesing.” Download the PDF of the agreement with PETA |
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Q7. List of selected abstracts
Answer:
Animal Welfare EEG changes in 4-week-old lambs in response to castration, tail docking and mulesing. Jongman, E. C.; Morris, J. P.; Barnett, J. L.; Hemsworth, P. H. Animal Welfare Centre, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Private Bag 7, Sneydes Road, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal, 2000, Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 339-343 A total of 98 three- to four-week-old lambs were subjected to one of seven treatments: castration, tail docking, mulesing, ear tagging, sham shearing, formalin injection (to induce lameness) or handling. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded for 15 min before treatment, during treatment, and for 15 min after treatment. Consistently lower mean power values across all bandwidths of the EEG were found at the time of mulesing and docking than at handling and shearing. Formalin injection resulted in lower power values than handling and shearing. Castration had lower power values than handling and shearing. Similarly, for 15 min after treatment, mulesing and formalin injection had significantly lower power values than handling, shearing, ear tagging and castration. The consistent effects associated with mulesing, docking and castration compared with handling, shearing and ear tagging suggest that mulesing at both the time of treatment and during 15 min after treatment results in a response that is similar to that of induced lameness. Docking and castration result in a response at the time of treatment that is similar to induced lameness and mulesing, but during 15 min after treatment is similar to the non-noxious control treatments. Original Language: English Source: Journal article ISSN: 0005-0423 Accession Number: 20002213299 ©2005 CAB International Identifying animal welfare issues for sheep in Australia. Cronin, G. M.; Barnett, J. L.; Edge, M. K.; Hemsworth, P. H. Animal Welfare Centre, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, 600 Sneydes Road, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding, 2002, Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 534-540 The Animal Welfare Centre (AWC) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) are presently planning their future activities in animal welfare. The process to date has involved consultation with key industry, community, government (research, extension and regulation) and university stakeholders and includes the development of a five-year plan for animal welfare RD and E. Eleven animal industries, including the sheep industry, have been involved in the process. One important outcome has been the establishment of lists of animal welfare priorities for each industry, categorized as extremely important, very important and important. For the sheep industry, five welfare issues identified as extremely important were: (1) land transport of sheep, (2) contingency planning for emergency situations during live sheep export, (3) mortality, (4) mulesing and (5) "stockmanship", which includes knowledge, skills, motivation and animal handling. The list of issues for the sheep industry will form the basis of strategic plans directing RD and E efforts by the AWC and NRE. Original Language: English Source: Journal article; Conference paper Conference Title: Inaugural Sheep and Wool Industry Conference, Victoria, Australia, 2002. Publisher: Wool Research Organization of New Zealand; Christchurch, New Zealand ISSN: 0043-7875 Accession Number: 20033037069 ©2005 CAB International Behavioural responses of lambs to common painful husbandry procedures. Grant, C. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2004, Vol. 87, No. 3/4, pp. 255-273 The behavioural responses of groups of 10 lambs were examined for 90 min following a range of commonly used husbandry procedures. The treatment groups were, control handling only (control); ear tagging (ET); tail docking by hot docking iron (HD); tail docking by rubber rings (RRT); castration by rubber rings (RRC); tail docking and castration by rubber rings (RRTRRC); HD plus Mulesing plus ET (HDMET); HD plus RRC plus Mulesing plus ET (HDRRCMET). ET produced no discernible changes in behavioural or postural indicators and HD showed small insignificant increases in active pain behaviours and abnormal postures. All treatments involving the use of tight rubber rings (RRT, RRC, RRTRRC, HDRRCMET) resulted in significant abnormal posture and active pain behaviour displays. HDMET produced few active pain behaviours but significantly increased the time spent in abnormal postures. An integrated score based upon the incidence of active pain behaviours and abnormal postures ranked the pain response of the treatments in the following order control=ET < HD < HDMET < RRT=HDRRCMET Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Elsevier Science B.V.; Amsterdam, Netherlands ISSN: 0168-1591 Accession Number: 20043120216 ©2005 CAB International Effect of mulesing and shearing on the prevalence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae arthritis in lambs. Paton, M. W.; Rose, I. R.; Sunderman, F. M.; Martin, M. H. Avon Districts Agriculture Centre, PO Box 483, Northam, Western Australia 6401, Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal, 2003, Vol. 81, No. 11, pp. 694-697 Objective: To examine the effects of management practices and environment on the prevalence of arthritis in lambs. Design and population: A case-control study was conducted on groups of lambs from 122 Western Australian sheep flocks. Method: Arthritis was diagnosed by visual assessment of lambs at abattoirs by qualified meat inspectors. The prevalence was estimated from data collected from producers on culling practices for arthritis. Data on management practices and environmental variables were collected by personal interview. Stepwise logistic regression was used to measure the effects of the most important factors on the prevalence of arthritis. Results: Mulesing and shearing lambs increased the odds of high prevalence of arthritis by 7 (95% CI 1.9-25.6) and 4.3 (95% CI 0.9-19.6) times, respectively compared to unmarked and unshorn lambs. Lambs slaughtered between December and June had 3.7 (95% CI 0.8-16.6) times greater odds of having a high prevalence of arthritis than lambs slaughtered in the remainder of the year. Conclusions: This study indicates that, to decrease the risk of high prevalence of arthritis, lambs raised for meat production should not be mulesed or shorn. Recommended improvements to hygiene at mulesing such as the use of portable yards had little effect on the prevalence of arthritis. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association; Artarmon, Australia ISSN: 0005-0423 Accession Number: 20033194951 ©2005 CAB International Justifying the appropriate length for docking lambs' tails - a review of the literature. Fisher, M. W.; Gregory, N. G.; Kent, J. E.; Scobie, D. R.; Mellor, D. J.; Pollard, J. C. Kotare Bioethics Ltd, PO Box 2484, Stortford Lodge, Hastings, New Zealand. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 2004, Vol. 64, pp. 293-296 It is generally accepted that tail docking is beneficial in farming systems where sheep are predisposed to dag formation and flystrike, but that it is a stressful procedure. Although there have been many studies of tail docking, relatively few have looked at the effects of different tail lengths. The incidence of flystrike depended on tail length, being least in medium-, and greatest in short-tail docked sheep. Short-tail docked ewes had higher rates of carcinoma of the vulva and short-tail docked lambs had a greater incidence of rectal prolapse. In some cases, increased tail length was associated with increased dags, and with longer tails crutching and shearing effort was greater. There apparently have been no studies documenting the effects of docking at different lengths on the welfare of the lamb at the time of docking, on muscle anatomy or on defaecation and urination. Furthermore, the results obtained in some studies were confounded by differences in breed (e.g. Merino) and mutilations (e.g. mulesing), which question the validity of extrapolating their conclusions to New Zealand conditions. Original Language: English Source: Journal article; Conference paper Conference Title: Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 64th Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, 28 June-1 July 2004. Publisher: New Zealand Society of Animal Production; Hamilton, New Zealand ISSN: 0370-2731 Accession Number: 20043134827 ©2005 CAB International Lucilia cuprina control Germ-line transformation of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina. Heinrich, J. C.; Li, X.; Henry, R. A.; Haack, N.; Stringfellow, L.; Heath, A. C. G.; Scott, M. J. Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Insect Molecular Biology, 2002, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 1-10 The Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, is the most important economic insect pest for the sheep industries in Australia and New Zealand. piggyBac-mediated germ-line transformation of L. cuprina was achieved with a helper plasmid that had the Drosophila melanogaster hsp70 promoter controlling expression of the transposase and a piggyBac vector with an EGFP marker gene. Two transformant lines were obtained, at a frequency of approximately 1-2% per fertile G0. One of these lines has a single copy of the transgene, the other most likely has four copies. This is the first report of germ-line transformation of L. cuprina and is an important step towards the generation of engineered strains that would be suitable for male-only release eradication/suppression programmes. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Blackwell Science; Oxford, UK ISSN: 0962-1075 Accession Number: 20023055802 ©2005 CAB International Efficacy of native and recombinant Cry1B protein against experimentally induced and naturally acquired ovine myiasis (fly strike) in sheep. Heath, A. C. G.; Broadwell, A. H.; Chilcott, C. N.; Wigley, P. J.; Shoemaker, C. B. AgResearch Ltd, Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Ward Street, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Journal of Economic Entomology, 2004, Vol. 97, No. 6, pp. 1797-1804 Several hundred strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), isolated in New Zealand from samples of soil and sheep fleece, were tested for toxicity to larvae of the blowfly Lucilia cuprina Wiedemann. Characterization of the Bt strains revealed that three of the more active strains produced Cry1Ba (an insecticidal protein present in Bt mother cell crystal inclusion) that was toxic to blowflies. These strains were evaluated for the ability to prevent experimentally induced fly strike in a bioassay by using first instars. Results with undiluted spore/crystal preparations were variable, but they generally prevented fly strike on sheep maintained on pasture for 3-6 wk. Spore viability was satisfactory throughout the trials and environmental factors (e.g., precipitation and UV radiation) seemed to have minimal effect on persistence. The loss of fly strike protection in these experiments correlated with the movement of spore/crystal toxicity away from the skin as a result of wool growth. Solubilized protein preparations were not as potent as spore/crystal preparations and fly strike protection lasted only from 1 to 3 wk. Vegetative forms of the Cry1Ba-producing strains of Bt did not establish on the fleece of sheep, did not produce significant sporulation, and no protection against fly strike was achieved. Escherichia coli expressing recombinant Cry1Ba protein was toxic to larvae in vitro but did not effectively protect sheep from fly strike because blowfly larvae were able to establish readily 8 d posttreatment. In a single field experiment involving 80 sheep per group, a spore/crystal preparation from a Bt strain expressing Cry1Ba provided less protection from naturally acquired fly strike than afforded by a commercially available dip. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Entomological Society of America; Lanham, USA ISSN: 0022-0493 Accession Number: 20053025431 ©2005 CAB International Progress towards the development of a transgenic strain of the Australian sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) suitable for a male-only sterile release program. Scott, M. J.; Heinrich, J. C.; Li XueLei Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2004, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 185-192 The Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina is the most important pest species involved in cutaneous myiasis (flystrike) of sheep in Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand L. cuprina is primarily controlled through the application of insecticides. However, there is an increased interest in biological methods of control of this species. We have proposed to develop a genetically modified strain of L. cuprina that would be ideal for a male-only sterile release program. To that end we have developed a method for making transgenic L. cuprina using a piggyBac vector and an EGFP marker gene. We have also developed in Drosophila melanogaster a 2-component genetic system for controlling female viability. Females carrying both components of the system die unless fed a diet that contains tetracycline. We anticipate that the female-killing system will need to be optimised for L. cuprina in order to make a strain with the properties required for a male-only release program. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Pergamon Press; Oxford, UK ISSN: 0965-1748 Accession Number: 20043039770 ©2005 CAB International Sheep blowfly strike reduction using a synthetic lure system. Ward, M. P.; Farrell, R. Department of Primary Industries, Animal Research Institute, Locked Mail Bag 4, Moorooka 4105, Qld, Australia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2003, Vol. 59, No. 1/2, pp. 21-26 The effectiveness of a synthetic lure system to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike in sheep flocks was assessed, using randomised field trials. Four field trials used eight total groups of sheep randomised to treatment (flytrap) or control on two properties in southern Queensland between 1999 and 2001. Treatment consisted of the operation of flytraps in paddocks as per manufacturer's recommendations. All sheep were inspected physically each month for flystrikes. Flytraps were associated with a reduction in flystrike incidence of 38-55%, compared to control sheep. Results confirm that traps are a useful component of a flystrike-control program. The use of fly traps by a substantial proportion of woolgrowers could assist the Australian wool industry to meet targets of reduced pesticides on shorn wool. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Elsevier Science B.V.; Amsterdam, Netherlands ISSN: 0167-5877 Accession Number: 20033091300 ©2005 CAB International Vaccines Identification of an immuno-protective mucin-like protein, peritrophin-55, from the peritrophic matrix of Lucilia cuprina larvae. Tellam, R. L.; Vuocolo, T.; Eisemann, C.; Briscoe, S.; Riding, G.; Elvin, C.; Pearson, R. CSIRO Molecular Animal Genetics Center, CSIRO Livestock Industries, 3rd Floor Gehrmann Laboratories, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2003, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 239-252 A mucin-like glycoprotein, peritrophin-55 was isolated and purified from the peritrophic matrix of Lucilia cuprina larvae. When injected into sheep, peritrophin-55 induced an immune response that inhibited larval growth by 51-66% when larvae subsequently fed on sera from the vaccinated sheep. The protein may have potential use as an immunogen probably accompanying other antigens to protect sheep from the cutaneous myiasis caused by these larvae. Peritrophin-55 was uniformly distributed throughout the peritrophic matrix where it probably lubricates the surface of the peritrophic matrix and protects the midgut from invasion by bacteria. The protein consists of an 8-cysteine amino-terminal domain (peritrophin-B domain) and a carboxy-terminal proline and threonine-rich domain with high probability for extensive O-linked glycosylation. The gene consists of two exons separated by a small intron. Peritrophin-55 mRNA was only detected in the larval cardia and midgut and to a minor extent in the hindgut. Sequence upstream of the transcriptional start site contained a putative promoter region, sequence similar to an ecdysone response element, sequence related to the Drosophila transposon S element and a tetranucleotide repeat region. A putative Drosophila melanogaster ortholog or paralog of peritrophin-55 (CG7714) was located within a 3458 bp intron of the Cha gene (choline-O-acetyltransferase), but on the opposite strand. Comparison of the putative promoter regions of the peritrophin-55 and CG7714 genes revealed little similarity except for a small semi-conserved sequence that is suggestive of a common transcription factor-binding site possibly contributing to the highly restricted developmental and tissue-specific expression patterns of these genes. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Pergamon Press; Oxford, UK ISSN: 0965-1748 Accession Number: 20033022307 ©2005 CAB International The intrinsic peritrophic matrix protein peritrophin-95 from larvae of Lucilia cuprina is synthesised in the cardia and regurgitated or excreted as a highly immunogenic protein. Tellam, R. L.; Eisemann, C.; Casu, R.; Pearson, R. CSIRO Tropical Agriculture, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Mail Bag 3, Indooroopilly, 4068 Queensland, Australia. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2000, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 9-17 The intrinsic peritrophic matrix glycoprotein, peritrophin-95, from the midgut of larvae of Lucilia cuprina can only be solubilized from the matrix using strong denaturants. This suggests that the protein has a structural role in the matrix. Consistent with this is the finding that immuno-gold and immuno-fluorescence localizations of the protein showed a uniform distribution within the peritrophic matrix. RT-PCR demonstrated that expression of peritrophin-95 mRNA was restricted to the larval cardia, a small organ located in the anterior midgut from which the type 2 peritrophic matrix originates. Immuno-blots and ELISAs demonstrated that the sera from sheep infested naturally or artificially with these larvae recognised peritrophin-95. This indicates that peritrophin-95 stimulates the ovine immune system during larval infestation even though the protein is firmly attached to the peritrophic matrix in the larval midgut and seemingly "concealed" from the ovine immune surveillance system. Analyses of larval regurgitated or excreted material by immuno-blots, immuno-affinity purification and amino-terminal sequencing demonstrated the presence of soluble monomeric peritrophin-95. These results indicate that peritrophin-95, a candidate vaccine antigen for use in sheep is not a "concealed" antigen as previously thought. The presence of soluble peritrophin-95 in the regurgitated/excreted material from larvae suggests that this protein may be involved in a maturation phase of peritrophic matrix production, a by-product of which is the excretion or regurgitation of soluble peritrophin-95. Original Language: English Source: Journal article ISSN: 0965-1748 Accession Number: 20000503605 ©2005 CAB International Role of oligosaccharides in the immune response of sheep vaccinated with Lucilia cuprina larval glycoprotein, peritrophin-95. Tellam, R. L.; Eisemann, C. H.; Vuocolo, T.; Casu, R.; Jarmey, J.; Bowles, V.; Pearson, R. Molecular Animal Genetics Centre, CSIRO Livestock Industries, Gehrmann Laboratories, Research Road, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia. International Journal for Parasitology, 2001, Vol. 31, No. 8, pp. 798-809 The larvae of the fly Lucilia cuprina cause a cutaneous myiasis in mammalian hosts, particularly sheep. The glycoprotein, peritrophin-95, isolated from L. cuprina larval peritrophic matrix, is a candidate vaccine antigen. This protein induced an immune response in vaccinated sheep that inhibited larval growth. Recombinant forms of peritrophin-95 were produced in bacteria and baculovirus-infected insect cells. The bacterial protein was not glycosylated and incorrectly folded whereas the insect cell-expressed protein was glycosylated and probably correctly folded. Sheep immunized with purified native peritrophin-95 generated strong larval growth inhibitory activity in their sera, whereas sheep immunized with either recombinant form of peritrophin-95 generated only relatively weak inhibitory activity. Ingested ovine antibodies to native peritrophin-95 mediated the anti-larval growth activity and this was independent of the presence of ovine complement. The activity was associated with IgG1 and IgG2 but not IgM. There were strong antibody responses to both the correctly folded native peritrophin-95 polypeptide and the oligosaccharides present on this glycoprotein. Immunoaffinity isolation of antibody to the peritrophin-95 polypeptide and antibody to peritrophin-95 oligosaccharides demonstrated that the larval growth inhibitory activity resided with both antibodies. Lectin blots and ELISA data showed substantial differences between the oligosaccharides attached to native peritrophin-95 and insect cell-expressed recombinant peritrophin-95. It is concluded that the oligosaccharides attached to native peritrophin-95 and its unique polypeptide structure are essential for the induction of larval growth inhibitory activity in the sera of sheep vaccinated with this antigen. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd; Oxford, UK ISSN: 0020-7519 Accession Number: 20013087194 ©2005 CAB International Production of antibodies to recombinant antigens from Lucilia cuprina following cutaneous immunisation of sheep. Colditz, I. G.; Watson, D. L.; Eisemann, C. H.; Tellam, R. L. CSIRO Livestock Industries, Pastoral Research Laboratory, Locked Bag 1, Post Office, Armidale 2350, Australia. Veterinary Parasitology, 2002, Vol. 104, No. 4, pp. 345-350 Immunological control of cutaneous myiasis of sheep caused by L. cuprina larvae has been an elusive goal. Antibody to antigens derived from the peritrophic membrane can stunt or kill larvae in a dose dependent fashion. Thus efficacy of vaccines employing these antigens may be limited by the amount of antibody in skin available for ingestion by larvae. The potential for elevating antibody concentrations in skin by intradermal immunization with the recombinant peritrophic membrane antigens peritrophin-44, peritrophin-48 and peritrophin-95 was therefore examined. Using within-animal comparisons, specific antibody was significantly higher in skin transudates from locally immunized sites than from adjacent adjuvant control sites. It is concluded that cutaneous immunization may assist immunological control of blowfly larvae. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Elsevier Science B.V.; Amsterdam, Netherlands ISSN: 0304-4017 Accession Number: 20023048476 ©2005 CAB International Other control measures Influence of different proportions of Lotus corniculatus in the diet of lambs on dags, flystrike and animal performance. Leathwick, D. M.; Atkinson, D. S. AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding, 1998, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 353-359 The relationship was investigated in New Zealand in 1994-95 between the number of days each 2 weeks spent grazing on L. corniculatus or ryegrass [Lolium]/white clover [Trifolium repens] and dags, flystrike and growth rates in lambs. Lambs which grazed lotus for 7 or more days each fortnight had significantly fewer dags (range, 86-154 g; P<0.01). While grazing lotus reduced dags, there was no treatment effect on faecal nematode egg count (FEC), nor was there any correlation between dag weight and FEC either overall or within treatments. There was also no treatment effect on faecal dry matter content. When fly pressure was low, a reduction in flystrike was apparent when the lambs spent only 4 days each fortnight grazing lotus, but when the fly pressure was high, 10 days/fortnight was required to reduce the incidence of flystrike. Lambs which grazed lotus for 7 or more days/fortnight grew significantly faster than lambs grazed solely on ryegrass/white clover. However, lambs which grazed only lotus grew significantly faster than those which grazed lotus for 7 day or less/fortnight. Of 81 lambs recorded as having tapeworms [Taenia sp.], 36 (44%) were struck, while of 172 in which tapeworms were not recorded, 62 (36%) were struck; these proportions were not significant. Lucilia sericata was the most abundant fly caught in 8 West Australian traps baited with sheep's liver and sodium sulfide, and accounted for >95% of the myiasis-causing flies captured. In contrast, the dominant species recovered from strikes was L. cuprina, which was present in 94% of strikes (and in 42% of strikes was the only species recovered). Original Language: English Source: Journal article ISSN: 0043-7875 Accession Number: 19990504719 ©2005 CAB International Forecasting blowfly strike in Queensland sheep flocks. Ward, M. P. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Animal Research Institute, Locked Mail Bag 4, Moorooka QLD 4105, Australia. Veterinary Parasitology, 2000, Vol. 92, No. 4, pp. 309-317 The occurrence of blowfly (predominately Lucilia cuprina) strike between 1993 and 1999, derived from the reported use of pesticides for flystrike control, was investigated in 247 sheep flocks in Queensland, Australia using autoregressive techniques. Although there was a small increase (0.0016 per year) in flystrike incidence during the study period, this long-term linear trend was not significant (P=0.53). The occurrence of flystrike was best described by an autoregressive model that included flystrike in the previous 2 months: flystriket=0.0170+0.0392 flystriket-1+0.3589 flystriket-2. Flystrike was associated with the southern oscillation index (SOI). The SOI is based on barometric pressure readings and is associated with periods of below-(negative SOI) and above-average (positive SOI) rainfall in northern Australia. Flystrike incidence was significantly (p=0.03) greater in months in which the SOI was positive. The strongest correlation (r=0.33) was found between flystrike incidence and the SOI 2 months previously. Using the SOI, the best-fitting autoregressive model describing flystrike was flystriket=0.0238+0.3033 flystriket-2+0.0009 SOIt-2. The incidence of flystrike was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with average monthly radiation (r=0.26), but not with average monthly maximum and minimum temperature, total rainfall, evaporation and vapour pressure. The best-fitting autoregressive model describing flystrike occurrence based on these variables was flystriket=-0.0259+0.3610 flystriket-2+0.0022 radiationt. Results suggest that a useful early-warning system could be developed based on the correlation between flystrike incidence and the SOI up to 2 months previously. Such attempts to forecast flystrike may assist decision-making by wool producers with respect to flystrike control options, leading to more efficient control of blowfly strike in their industry. Original Language: English Source: Journal article Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishers; Amsterdam, Netherlands ISSN: 0304-4017 Accession Number: 20003002527 Download the PDF of The Facts: The Australian wool industry and alternatives to mulesing. |
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Q8. Better Choices media timeline
Date | Details | FURTHER INFORMATION TO CLICK THRU TO on BC website |
March 2008 | Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) announces good progress on Clips, Needleless intradermal injection and breeding | The focus of the research and development is in three main areas:
More information » click here |
March 2008 | AWI unanimously passes resolution regarding the wool industry’s commitment to the phasing out of the current practice of mulesing | More information » click here |
March 2008 | AWI fully supports the use of pain relief by woolgrowers through to 2010. | More information » click here |
March 2008 | Retailer H&M threatens boycott of Australian wool | |
March 2008 | ABC Radio Country Hour reports on Swedish TV program | ABC Radio Country Hour said “…the program … shows footage of a lobbyist hired by the Australian Sheep and Wool Industry Taskforce, offering a free trip to a Swedish participant if she agreed to not appear in the documentary.” According to AWI the truth – from the actual transcript of the Swedish TV program put to air on February 24, 2008 – is that Kevin Craig, the Taskforce representative, noted there was no point coming to Australia to look at mulesing and live export if the program had already been broadcast. More information » click here |
February 2008 | PETA calls for further boycotts in response to perceived change in wording of commitment to phase out mulesing. | AWI’s Chairman Mr McLachlan said “The Board made a decision in December 2007 to confirm the company’s support of the industry’s commitment and used the word “target” instead of “commitment”. AWI identified that there may have been confusion and the Board released a further clarifying statement on 8 January 2008 that exactly supported the industry commitment to the phasing out of the current practice of mulesing by 2010” More information » click here |
DATE | Better Choices included in quality control program for wool sales | |
January 2008 | Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) release tools to assist growers and retailers in the progress towards the industry’s commitment to the phasing-out of the current practice of mulesing by 2010. | The three tools include an extensive blowfly strike prevention and management CD, a declaration form for the sale of unmulesed wool (definition: wool sourced from woolgrowers that are no longer mulesing) and a swing tag available to the retailers. The training CD is a practical guide intended to assist woolgrowers to minimise the occurrence and extent of blowfly strike in their flocks and can be ordered from the AWI website. |
October 2007 | Animal Liberation and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Animal Liberation consent to the Federal Court case being dismissed. | |
30 June 2007 | Australian wool wins agreement with PETA on mulesing | AWI announces that “The Australian wool industry has won a landmark commitment from the animal rights movement, with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) agreeing to stop threatening global retailers over the practice of mulesing until 31 December 2010. The commitment also marks the end of a court case brought by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) against PETA in the Federal Court of Australia. The agreement identifies activities already being undertaken by the Australian wool industry which will now be documented and provided to PETA as part of this agreement. “The National Mulesing Accreditation Program (NMAP) will continue to be rolled out, as well as genetic research into bare breech sheep. There will be a system to identify wool from unmulesed sheep for retailers who want it,” said Mr Targ. Download the PDF of the agreement with PETA |
May 2007 | National Retail Federation in the US endorses mulesing progress and Better Choices auditing program. | “We also acknowledge progress on the development for the commercial market of new, efficacious, widely available, and easily administered analgesics in fulfilment of Point 6 of the Declaration of Commitments,” Autor said. “For example, we have been informed about Better Choices, a pain-relief auditing program for mulesing initiated by Bayer Healthcare Australia, and have shared that information with our members.” Link to PR release |
2007 | Better Choices established by Bayer Australia Ltd | |
July 2006 | Pain relief for Mulesing unveiled | For Immediate Release Australian innovation takes pain Paediatric medicine provides breakthrough pain relief In a response to mounting global concerns, the Australian wool industry has moved to dramatically reduce the level of pain suffered by lambs as they undergo a procedure known as mulesing. A powerful pain reliever, Tri-Solfen, which was developed by a paediatrician at the Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney, has been launched by Bayer Animal Health and local start-up, Animal Ethics. Mulesing, the practice of cutting folded flesh away from a lamb's hind quarters to reduce the risk of fly strike - the infestation of maggots in the wool and skin - has long worried animal welfare groups and has led to a ban on Australian wool products by a number of American retailers. “Wool producers are very concerned about retailers who are under pressure from animal rights groups,” said Martin Oppenheimer, Chairman of the Australian Wool Growers Association. “I won’t have to persuade producers to use Tri-Solfen, the market will do that.” “We have a moral obligation to our animals and this product provides us with an opportunity to become the first farming community in the world to recognise that they feel pain and to do something about it,” he said. Dr Meredith Sheil, who treats surgical and trauma wounds in children and also grazes sheep on her property in the Central West of New South Wales, said she decided to work on a pain relief product for lambs after accusations of cruelty were levelled against Australian producers by foreign animal welfare groups. "Tri-Solfen is an anaesthetic that can be sprayed onto the wound immediately after mulesing,” said Dr Sheil. “It provides extended pain relief, helps to prevent blood loss and improves healing.” Under an agreement between Australian wool producers and the activist group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), mulesing is to be phased out by 2010. In the meantime, recent Australian government legislation requires that farmers use some form of pain relief on mulesed animals. “This product solves so many problems for the Australian farming community,” said Mr Oppenheimer. “With no alternative to mulesing in sight, Tri-Solfen means we can continue the vital procedure and satisfy retailers.” "Like organically grown crops, Tri-Solfen gives producers an opportunity to sell ethically grown wool on the international market and in the long term, reap the financial benefits," added Martin Oppenheimer. Bayer Animal Health believes that Tri-Solfen represents the first attempt by a global pharmaceutical company to reduce the stress and pain traditionally suffered by large farm animals. “Bayer is in the business of developing science for a better life and we see this as a fantastic Australian innovation which provides pain relief in large farm animals,” said Dr Laurie Griffin, Managing Director of Bayer HealthCare. “Bayer recognises that farm animals feel pain in processes such as mulesing. This is a brilliant solution that we can further develop locally and take to the world.” "The history of ignoring pain in production animals is past,” added Dr Griffin. |
August 2005 | AVA welcomes mulesing pain relief | Enhanced welfare of animals through the relief of pain The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) in 2005 welcomed the granting of a permit by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for a new mulesing pain relief product. “We strongly support the development of products that enhance the welfare of animals through the relief of pain,” said Dr Makin. The APVMA has approved the use of Tri-Solfen, a topical anaesthetic & antiseptic solution for pain relief in sheep. “This has the potential to reduce the pain and discomfort experienced by sheep after they have been mulesed.” Contact: Eddie Ripard Contact E-mail: eripard@ava.com.au Source: www.ava.com.au |
26 July 2005 | PETA spokesman Matthew Rice backs pain relief | Mr Rice tells the ABC on 26 July 2005 that "the post-mulesing spray is much better than no painkiller at all, of course, but ... there are better ways to prevent sheep from being infected with flystrike". |
9 November 2004 | Court application filed to stop PETA | On behalf of Australian woolgrowers, Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) files in the Federal Court of Australia an Application and Statement of Claim against People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Inc. (PETA). The Federal Court of Australia claim was served on PETA President Ingrid Newkirk shortly after she concluded an interview with 60 Minutes in Sydney today |
8 November 2004 | Australian Wool Industry agreement on mulesing | The members of the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce National Farmers' Federation, WoolProducers, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, The Woolmark Company, Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia, and LiveCorp announce:
AWI did not partake in the vote. However, AWI was given the priority task of finding alternatives to the current mulesing practice. Download the PDF file. |
2004 | PETA commences campaign on animal welfare including retail boycotts | The Australian wool industry and major international clothing retailers, are threatened by an international boycott by the animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) because of mulesing and live sheep exports. The National Farmers' Federation strongly criticises the intimidating tactics of extreme animal activist group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against Australia's sheep and wool industry and for targetting American Retailer Abercrombie and Fitch. Claims Abercrombie and Fitch does not use Australian wool. More information » click here |
28 March 2004 | 60 Minutes airs program showing sheep mulesing operation. | |
Pre March 2004 | Mulesing widely accepted as best method for preventing flystrike in sheep | Mulesing is a method for preventing blowfly attack of sheep Mulesing and tail docking can decrease the incidence of breech flystrike in up to 100 per cent of sheep in a flock. Without such measures, up to 98 per cent of the sheep could be affected by flystrike, many fatally, given the right weather conditions. Mulesing and tail docking are endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association and guided by Australian national and state Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare, developed in consultation with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). |
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