Better Choices

Wool boycotts threaten our industry today

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

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

On 19 March 2008 the Australian Wool Innovation (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".

AWGA supports industry-wide adoption of pain relief

Also in March 2008, the Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) said it supports industry-wide adoption of pain relief until viable alternatives are found. Martin Oppenheimer, Chairman, AWGA, said, “Australian woolgrowers are serious about practising the best animal welfare standards – now".

Key Swedish retailers accept pain relief as an interim solution

Better Choices expert representatives recently spent time in Sweden with a number of key retailers and industry representatives discussing pain relief used as part of the traditional mulesing process. They highlighted the real risk to more than 3 million lambs if not mulesed, and how Australian woolgrowers were already adopting pain relief successfully.

Better Choices is a certified and audited program

The Better Choices audited welfare program assists woolgrowers that mules their merino lambs to satisfy the animal welfare concerns of international retailers. Here is how you can participate:

1. Mules your lambs with pain relief
Ensure that pain relief is applied to all mulesed lambs on your property, either by yourself or by your mulesing contractor. Contact your local veterinarian for a free information pack and to purchase pain relief for lambs at mulesing.
2. Register as a Better Choices woolgrower
Once you have used the product, call 1800 678 368 to register and receive your Better Choices producer kit. This kit provides instructions, a certificate and signage to enable you to promote your wool under the Better Choices brand.
3. Gain acceptance for your Better Choices branded wool
When you use pain relief on your mulesed lambs your 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.

When it is time for mulesing the producer must go to the veterinarian to get a prescription for the anaesthetic spray to use on the lambs. As well as the prescription, the veterinarian must fill in a reporting form. He fills in the top part of the form that declares the name of the producer, the date, the name of the property, the number of lambs to be treated, their sheep type and their estimated age and weight and required dose. Then, on the day of mulesing, the producer must fill in the bottom part of the reporting form that declares the same details.

The form must then to be sent to the medicines registration authority and a copy is sent to Bayer / Better Choices. The producer also keeps a copy of the form and a copy of the original prescription from the veterinarian.

The wool then goes to market with the Better Choices stamp identifying it in the sales.

Farmers who provide 'non-mulesed' wool will be required to first register with Better Choices and agree to on-farm audits carried out by Better Choices veterinarians, to ensure effective prevention of flystrike is being achieved.

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

By joining Better Choices you will help our Australian Wool Industry and ensure:

1. Wool brokers and buyers 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.

Until alternatives are found, mulesing is needed to prevent breech strike.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Australia accepts the practice of mulesing as a necessary sheep husbandry procedure to prevent breech strike. At the present time, mulesing is the most effective method of preventing breech strike and provides lifetime protection.

It is acknowledged that the procedure is accompanied by pain, but there is ample evidence in scientific literature that unequivocally establishes the positive health and welfare benefits conferred upon sheep in the Australian environment by correct mulesing.

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

The APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority) has approved the use of Tri-Solfen, a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic solution for pain relief in sheep. Tri-Solfen is formulated with a number of actives to work to reduce the trauma associated with mulesing.

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 are generally aware that improving the welfare of their livestock leads to an improvement in productivity.

Tri-Solfen when applied as directed provides several important ingredients for pain and stress management at application.

A free information pack is available from your local veterinarian.

Find a vet by » clicking here and enter your town or region to search.

Join the Better Choices audited program and get your wool certified.

The Better Choices audited welfare program assists woolgrowers who mules their merino lambs to satisfy the animal welfare concerns of international retailers. Here is how you can participate:

1. Mules your lambs with pain relief

Ensure that pain relief is applied to all mulesed lambs on your property, either by yourself or by your mulesing contractor. Contact your local veterinarian for a free information pack and to purchase pain relief for lambs at mulesing.

2. Register as a Better Choices woolgrower

Once you have used the product, call 1800 678 368 to register and receive your Better Choices producer kit.This kit provides instructions, a certificate and signage to enable you to promote your wool under the Better Choices brand.

3. Gain acceptance for your Better Choices branded wool
When you use pain relief on your mulesed lambs your current year’s wool clip is certified and can be branded Better Choices, providing international retailers with a clear conscious 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.

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

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) has approved the use of Tri-Solfen, a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic solution to help relieve the pain and stress suffered by lambs during mulesing. It is a Schedule 4 product and is only available through your veterinarian.

A free information pack explaining all about pain relief is available from your local veterinarian.

Find a vet by » clicking here and enter your town or region to search.

Tri-Solfen, a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic solution to help relieve the pain and stress suffered by lambs during mulesing, is available in 5 litre back-packs and 10 and 20 litre containers. It is only available from your local veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will advise you on correct application so that you can use the product easily and simply without veterinary supervision. Treatment needs to be applied after the mulesing procedure is completed and before any fly treatment is applied.

Depending on the size of the mulesing wound, the product is typically applied as illustrated below, covering and lining the edges of the wound and providing ample coverage of the tail.

Depending on the time of year, fly control can be very important when mulesing. Ensure you apply Tri-Solfen before applying any fly treatment. It is not recommended to use high volume fly treatments in conjunction with Tri-Solfen.

Remember your veterinarian will advise you on correct application and provide you with all your requirements on pain relief for lambs at mulesing.