Mulesing Target Cutback Threatened
Yesterday the Australian Wool Innovation voted in a new board that may threaten the target to phase out mulesing by 2010. The new board chairman Walter Merriman, has said that alternatives to mulesing are being researched but that the target is not realistic. Many of the new board members are strong supporters of Tri-Solfen, a pain relief spray used in conjunction with mulesing which was invented by the new Director Meredith Sheil. However this pain relief comes only after the mulesing is complete and is viewed as a temporary fix until other methods can be developed. This is raising concerns whether different methods will be fully explored by the AWI. Farmer and spokesman for the South Australian Farmers Federation, Geoff Powers talks to Renee Sizer about the outcome of the AWI meeting and the future of mulesing.