A perception by brands the Australian wool industry’s animal welfare practices are not up to acceptable standards has seen some Merino wool processors bypass the country to source wool from New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
This is according to Vitale Barberis Canonico raw material buying manager Davide Fontaneto who said Australia’s position, which did not require mandatory use of analgesic for the surgical mulesing procedure, had damaged the perception of Australian wool across the world.
“A few years ago customers were asking for fabric from non-mulesed (NM) wool, but now we are seeing a trend when they are asking for fabric that is not made from Australian wool,” Mr Fontaneto said.
“I think that is a strong message that must communicated to the Australian woolgrower – why should we lose the best wool in the world because of this?”
During the recent VBC Wool Excellence Award held in Melbourne, Mr Fontaneto told the crowd
of 50 woolgrower “club members” and industry players that there was mounting pressure for VBC to move away from pain relief status wool to only NM wool.
Australian Wool Growers Association News 22-11-2016
“I think that Australia as a country should make analgesic application at least compulsory, if not banning mulesing altogether, or risk further business loss,” Mr Fontaneto said.
“Unfortunately for some, Australia is seen as a place where sheep are cruelly treated because of a lack of legislation that has still to be brought up to the standards of today’s society and beliefs”.
“We must communicate that (VBC woolgrowers’) animals are happy, healthy and that you are doing your utmost to provide them with the best possible life.”
But on the vexed issue of fly strike prevention, Mr Fontaneto was torn on whether mulesing or not mulesing was better.
“I certainly am not making a moral judgement here of what is the best form of control. I have seen sheep die because of the fly, and this is really distressing and painful,” he said.
“But we are in the 21st century and if we decide to mules we must use pain relief, and the best would be the use of an analgesic before the surgery.”
The Italian textile maker purchases nearly 30,000 bales of NM or pain relief (PR) certified wool from the Australian market.