Better Choices

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 Matt Makin, who was then president of the AVA.

The APVMA has approved the use of Tri-Solfen, a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic solution for pain relief in sheep, noting it has the potential to reduce the pain and discomfort experienced by sheep after they have been mulesed.

Tri-Solfen is a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic solution for pain relief

Tri-Solfen 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 acknowledge that improving the welfare of their livestock leads to an improvement in productivity.

Wool boycotts threaten our industry today

International retailers and their representatives are asking our industry what are we going to do now to prevent further boycotts against Australian wool.

AWI Board fully endorses the use of pain relief in the interim

An Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Board press release from 19 March 2008 stated: "The AWI Board unanimously resolved that … it will continue to vigorously research 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."

IWTO suggests the need for pain relief to resolve concerns

In Australia's leading rural newspaper, The Land, on 20 March 2008, International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) president, Gunther Beier, was quoted: "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," he said. "And if that were legislated, I think that would go a long way towards resolving the concerns."

Sheep and Wool Industry Taskforce support pain relief

Melbourne broadsheet newspaper The Age on 15 March 2008 quoted Chairman of the Sheep and Wool Industry Taskforce, Don Hamblin: “Australian growers support the use of pain relief for mulesing but at the same time Australian growers remain committed and determined to meet retailers' requests to phase out mulesing post-2010."

Better Choices is a certified and audited welfare program

The Better Choices audited welfare program assists woolgrowers that mules their merino lambs to satisfy the animal welfare concerns of international retailers.

How does a woolgrower get certified?

1. Mules their lambs with pain relief
Woolgrowers must ensure that pain relief is applied to all mulesed lambs on their property.
2. Register as a Better Choices woolgrower
Once they have used the product, they call 1800 678 368 to register and receive their Better Choices producer kit. This kit provides instructions, a certificate and signage to enable them to promote their wool under the Better Choices brand.
3. Gain acceptance for their Better Choices branded wool
When they use pain relief on their mulesed lambs their current year’s wool clip is certified and can be branded Better Choices, providing international retailers with a clear conscience that their animal welfare concerns have been taken care of.

By identifying and displaying Better Choices wool you will help our Australian Wool Industry and ensure:

1. Your customers and clients recognise those woolgrowers with progressive farming practices
2. Garment manufacturers and retailers can defend their support of the Australian woolgrower
3. Consumers of woollen garments made from Australian wool can purchase with a clear conscience.

It's about showing the world that woolgrowers are making Better Choices in regard to animal welfare.

Download a brochure outlining the Better Choices international welfare program. If you would like more information about the benefits of pain relief and Better Choices, please register your interest here.
Email to Better Choices

Australia-wide, more woolgrowers are making the choice to use pain relief as a post-mulesing treatment.

The US National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade association, acknowledged the use of pain relief in sheep requiring mulesing for breech strike. Australian woolgrowers who use pain relief as a post-mulesing procedure are eligible to market their wool under the Better Choices audited welfare program.

A list of woolgrowers in each Australian state who are registered Better Choices woolgrowers is available. » Click here

Better Choices is a certified and audited welfare program

The Better Choices audited welfare program assists woolgrowers that mules their merino lambs to address their concerns over the health and welfare of their sheep and to satisfy the animal welfare concerns of international retailers.

How does a woolgrower get certified?

1. Mules their lambs with pain relief
Woolgrowers must ensure that pain relief is applied to all mulesed lambs on their property.
2. Register as a Better Choices woolgrower
Once they have used the product, they call 1800 678 368 to register and receive their Better Choices producer kit. This kit provides instructions, a certificate and signage to enable them to promote their wool under the Better Choices brand.
3. Gain acceptance for their Better Choices branded wool
When they use pain relief on their mulesed lambs their current year’s wool clip is certified and can be branded Better Choices, providing international retailers with a clear conscience that their animal welfare concerns have been taken care of.

Download a brochure outlining the Better Choices international welfare program. If you would like more information about the benefits of pain relief and Better Choices, please register your interest here.

Email to Better Choices

Growers can also use the Bayer 'Better Choices' system to identify their clip as being produced using pain relief during mulesing and other on-farm procedures.

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 AWEX for the latest updates.

The scheme is titled Better Choices Quality Scheme (Pain Free Mulesing – Bayer Aust) and is catalogued under the short name 'Better Choices', with EDI code ‘05’ placed in the Quality Schemes section of the Australian Public Catalogue.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) in the US in May 2007 announced it was pleased with the progress on sheep mulesing. The NRF is the world's largest retail trade association with 2005 sales of $US4.4 trillion.

The statement from the NRF said:

“The National Retail Federation and US apparel retailers 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.

Contact: J. Craig Shearman (202) 626-8134 Email

The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalogue, internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores, as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. The NRF represents an industry with more than 1.4 million US retail establishments, more than 23 million employees – about one in five American workers – and 2005 sales of $4.4 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, the NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations.

Link to PR release by » clicking here