Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has reaffirmed its policy of conducting the necessary research and development to enable the broader wool industry to meet its commitment with wool apparel international retailers.
That commitment agreed by the Australian Sheep and Wool Industry Taskforce on 8 November 2004 was to phase out “the current practice of mulesing” by 2010.
The current practice of mulesing involves surgically removing the skin around the breech (backside) to prevent wool growth which reduces the risk of flystrike caused by a unique and very aggressive blowfly (Lucilia cuprina).
To that end, AWI, other commercial firms and breeders are actively identifying and investigating a range of methods which will offer wool producers an alternative to conventional 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”.
“PETA must have missed this further clarifying statement or has chosen to ignore it.”
Mr McLachlan said that Mr Prescott from PETA appears to be now trying to get rid of clips from the research program three years before they could have to be used in whatever form they would be by then.
“This shows that PETA is not interested in solutions but only in getting rid of the industry itself. The sooner people in general understand that, the quicker good sense will be brought to these matters.”
Mr McLachlan said that the assertion that the Australian wool industry is reneging on its commitments is in a word wrong, and in fact a fabrication.
Mr McLachlan, said any claim to the contrary is mischievous and mis-represents the situation.
“AWI’s commitment is absolute to have solutions for woolgrowers to use.
“Despite mischievous views to the contrary, some of these solutions are very positive indeed.”
