H&M, a Swedish clothing retailer is planning to source wool from sources other than Australia, after it discovered that some Australian sheep farmers continue the practice of mulesing. Mulesing is the process by which skin around the sheep's anal area is cut to reduce flystrike-an infestation of maggots.  

The move is in response to a complaint filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against the Australian wool industry for continuing such cruel practice. Mulesing is done by sheep farmers without painkillers and a number of practicing veterinarians are in favor of the procedure since it protects the sheep from complications of infection.

The Australian sheep industry is bound to feel H&M's withdrawal from its products. Industry watchers note that H&M's annual revenues reaches $A10billion from its 1,500 retail stores worldwide. Withdrawing Australian wool from H&M stores is just another procedure practiced by the retailer, which has a strict Code of Conduct on suppliers. Mulesing is not the only issue between PETA and the Australian sheep industry. PETA is also protesting Australia's live import of sheep to the Middle East.

Mulesing has been a practice in Australia since the 1930's after it was discovered by farmer John Mules, who accidentally invented the practice. Australian sheep farmers have always had problems with flies, especially with the Lucilia cuprina, whose habit of depositing eggs on feces and urine left on the rump of the sheep develops the flystrikes. With mulesing, flystrike is virtually eliminated, thus improving the sheep's health and living conditions. Australian regulations state that mulesing can only be done on animals less than a year old and is commonly done on two-month old sheep so as to reduce pre- and post-op pain since only a small portion of skin need be removed.

<em>Reference: www.thedaily.com.au </em>