21
Nov
Troublesome Times for Sheep – AWI May Renege on 2010 Ban of Mulesing
- posted at 3:13 PM
- Permalink
- Comments (2)
Despite Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) previously agreeing to end the cruel mulesing mutilation – in which farmers carve chunks of skin from lambs’ backsides in a crude attempt to prevent maggot infestations, called “flystrike” – by 2010, news reaches us that AWI has now changed board members.
|
Some reports have indicated that the new board members are opposed to the 2010 ban so Matt Prescott, the PETA US Assistant Director of Corporate Affairs, sent a letter to the new board asking them for clarification on their position, and again asking them to implement a three point plan, which, if followed, will mean the end of the worldwide campaign calling for a boycott of Australian wool. Here are the points:
1. Immediately end the use of clip mulesing nationwide and replace it with humane flystrike-control methods that don’t involve the removal of skin. Such methods include early crutching, frequent jetting, and simply being more attentive to individual sheep.
2. Ensure that after 2010, Australian farmers will not remove the skin from sheep’s rumps—whether by standard or clip mulesing or any other procedure aimed at managing flystrike.
3. Agree to immediately undertake bare-breech breeding programs nationwide, with the goal that every wool-producing sheep in Australia will be bare-breech by the end of 2013.
Many major brand companies – including Adidas, HUGO BOSS and H&M have already stopped using or agreed to move away from wool suppliers that use mulesing.
To have your say on the matter, urge the Australian PM to stop lamb mutilations today.
I really hope the new board members of the AWI decide to stick with the plan to end mulesing, keep us updated Peta!