European retailers join mulesing ban

May 5, 2008

European retailers join mulesing ban A US-based animal rights group has persuaded two more major European retailers to boycott Australian wool from mulesed sheep. AB Lindex, with 346 stores throughout northern Europe, and RNB Retail and Brands, with 450 stores in 12 countries, announced they would source wool from nations that do not perform mulesing and only Australian farmers who do not use the controversial procedure. Lindex and RNB, both based in Sweden, made the decisions after American representatives from the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) flew to Sweden last month to lobby company executives directly. "We have started to steer the purchasing of merino wool required for our own production to markets and suppliers that can offer animal husbandry that matches our own view of animal welfare," RNB states on

its website. The companies have joined more than 10 other fashion giants across the globe, including Hugo Boss, Abercrombie & Fitch, H & M, Victoria's Secret and Liz Claiborne, in placing economic pressure on Australian farmers to quit mulesing sheep. Mulesing involves cutting skin from the hindquarters of sheep to prevent fly larvae from feeding on the tissue. PETA claims there are more humane methods to protect sheep from flystrike than mulesing. AB Lindex and RNB also announced they do not support clip mulesing, an alternative to traditional mulesing Australian farmers hoped would satisfy animal rights groups and retailers. "The company has decided to direct its buying to other countries of origin and suppliers in Australia who can guarantee mulesing-free merino wool," Lindex announced. "The aim is to step up the pressure on sheep farmers who practice mulesing. "Lindex does not

accept clips as an alternative to mulesing." Last week, PETA offered Australian farmers a peace deal to end its four year campaign against mulesing, but is yet to hear back from the industry's representative group, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). Under PETA's three point offer, Australian farmers would need to immediately end the use of clip mulesing; ensure that after 2010 farmers did not remove "flesh and skin" from sheep's rumps by standard or clip mulesing; and immediately undertake bare-breech programs nationwide "with the goal that every wool-producing sheep in Australia will be bare-breech by the end of 2013". PETA's director of corporate affairs, Matt Prescott, said AWI and its new chairman, Brian van Rooyen, were yet to respond. "Our offer is still on the table, but until AWI accepts it, we'll continue showing retailers why they need to boycott Australian wool," Prescott told AAP. ©

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May 8, 2008

Thats a bit of good news! thanks Shannon its good to know. I must look up 'bare-breech', I hate to think how bad the fly's must be over there on the animals, and the pain those sheep must go through having hunks of their flesh cut off, it makes my skin crawl...

- Shannon Morgan

animalconnectiontx ; Animal Rights Resources ; animalrightsandvegans ; Animals Advocates ; AnimalsNeedUsNow ; ARAs ; extreme-animal-rights ; Fortheanimals7 ; ; In Solidarity with Animals ; Planet4Animals ; Speak 4 Animals ; Vegan_Animal_Rights

Monday, May 05, 2008 8:39 PM

European retailers join mulesing ban

A US-based animal rights group has persuaded two more major European retailers to boycott Australian wool from mulesed sheep.

AB Lindex, with 346 stores throughout northern Europe, and RNB Retail and Brands, with 450 stores in 12 countries, announced they would source wool from nations that do not perform mulesing and only Australian farmers who do not use the controversial procedure.

Lindex and RNB, both based in Sweden, made the decisions after American representatives from the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) flew to Sweden last month to lobby company executives directly.

"We have started to steer the purchasing of merino wool required for our own production to markets and suppliers that can offer animal husbandry that matches our own view of animal welfare," RNB states on its website.

The companies have joined more than 10 other fashion giants across the globe, including Hugo Boss, Abercrombie & Fitch, H & M, Victoria's Secret and Liz Claiborne, in placing economic pressure on Australian farmers to quit mulesing sheep.

Mulesing involves cutting skin from the hindquarters of sheep to prevent fly larvae from feeding on the tissue.

PETA claims there are more humane methods to protect sheep from flystrike than mulesing.

AB Lindex and RNB also announced they do not support clip mulesing, an alternative to traditional mulesing Australian farmers hoped would satisfy animal rights groups and retailers.

"The company has decided to direct its buying to other countries of origin and suppliers in Australia who can guarantee mulesing-free merino wool," Lindex announced.

"The aim is to step up the pressure on sheep farmers who practice mulesing.

"Lindex does not accept clips as an alternative to mulesing."

Last week, PETA offered Australian farmers a peace deal to end its four year campaign against mulesing, but is yet to hear back from the industry's representative group, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

Under PETA's three point offer, Australian farmers would need to immediately end the use of clip mulesing; ensure that after 2010 farmers did not remove "flesh and skin" from sheep's rumps by standard or clip mulesing; and immediately undertake bare-breech programs nationwide "with the goal that every wool-producing sheep in Australia will be bare-breech by the end of 2013".

PETA's director of corporate affairs, Matt Prescott, said AWI and its new chairman, Brian van Rooyen, were yet to respond.

"Our offer is still on the table, but until AWI accepts it, we'll continue showing retailers why they need to boycott Australian wool," Prescott told AAP.

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May 8, 2008

Seems to be some sort of genetic manipulation in the breeding. Here's what I found: Special notice was taken this year of rams with bare breech and backside areas. These rams are the ultimate in easy care - with a bare breech and backside reducing the risk of fly strike and other disease issues. The beauty of a bare breech Cranmore Merino ram is that wool production is not compromised in selection of bare breech - the wool production of the Cranmore Merino bare breech rams is 3.01 kilograms per head averaged over the 38 rams with this trait. Ultimately sheep of this type will not require mulesing.Jillyz <lady wrote: Thats a bit of good news! thanks Shannon its good to know. I must look up 'bare-breech', I hate to think how bad the fly's must be over there on the animals, and the pain those sheep must go through having hunks of their flesh cut off, it makes my skin crawl... - Shannon Morgan animalconnectiontx ; Animal Rights Resources

; animalrightsandvegans ; Animals Advocates ; AnimalsNeedUsNow ; ARAs ; extreme-animal-rights ; Fortheanimals7 ; ; In Solidarity with Animals ; Planet4Animals ; Speak 4 Animals ; Vegan_Animal_Rights Monday, May 05, 2008 8:39 PM European retailers join mulesing ban European retailers join mulesing ban A US-based animal rights group has persuaded two more major European retailers to boycott Australian wool from mulesed sheep. AB Lindex, with 346 stores throughout northern Europe, and RNB Retail and Brands, with 450 stores in 12 countries, announced they would source wool from nations that do not perform mulesing and only

Australian farmers who do not use the controversial procedure. Lindex and RNB, both based in Sweden, made the decisions after American representatives from the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) flew to Sweden last month to lobby company executives directly. "We have started to steer the purchasing of merino wool required for our own production to markets and suppliers that can offer animal husbandry that matches our own view of animal welfare," RNB states on its website. The companies have joined more than 10 other fashion giants across the globe, including Hugo Boss, Abercrombie & Fitch, H & M, Victoria's Secret and Liz Claiborne, in placing economic pressure on Australian farmers to quit mulesing sheep. Mulesing involves cutting skin from the hindquarters of sheep to prevent fly larvae from feeding on the tissue. PETA claims there are more humane methods to protect sheep from flystrike than

mulesing. AB Lindex and RNB also announced they do not support clip mulesing, an alternative to traditional mulesing Australian farmers hoped would satisfy animal rights groups and retailers. "The company has decided to direct its buying to other countries of origin and suppliers in Australia who can guarantee mulesing-free merino wool," Lindex announced. "The aim is to step up the pressure on sheep farmers who practice mulesing. "Lindex does not accept clips as an alternative to mulesing." Last week, PETA offered Australian farmers a peace deal to end its four year campaign against mulesing, but is yet to hear back from the industry's representative group, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). Under PETA's three point offer, Australian farmers would need to immediately end the use of clip mulesing; ensure that after 2010 farmers did not remove "flesh and skin" from sheep's rumps by standard or clip

mulesing; and immediately undertake bare-breech programs nationwide "with the goal that every wool-producing sheep in Australia will be bare-breech by the end of 2013". PETA's director of corporate affairs, Matt Prescott, said AWI and its new chairman, Brian van Rooyen, were yet to respond. "Our offer is still on the table, but until AWI accepts it, we'll continue showing retailers why they need to boycott Australian wool," Prescott told AAP. © 2008 AAP http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join http://www.myspace.com/fortheanimals7 http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join http://www.myspace.com/fortheanimals7

May 11, 2008

Thanks Shannon, perhaps breeding it into the Marino's will stop the mulesing! the breeders or farmers will have to stop doing it sooner or later.

I read this....Selection for bare breech and reduced wrinkle is seen as the long-term solution to mulesing.

But despite its cost effectiveness, many stud breeders and producers remain sceptical of the bare-breech answer.

Merryville principal and Australian Wool Innovation board member Wal Merriman is wary of selecting for the bare breech.

"We've spent our lifetime trying to breed wool on to our sheep and now they want to breed it off them," Mr Merriman said last year.

But Mr Mortimer said he had the facts in the form of rams and the ewes to back his view.

Centre Plus sheep dominate the MerinoSelect list for a range of traits including a propensity to lift fleece weight.

"Until now, we've never selected for bare breech," he said.

- Shannon Morgan

Thursday, May 08, 2008 7:42 PM

Re: European retailers join mulesing ban

Seems to be some sort of genetic manipulation in the breeding. Here's what I found:

Special notice was taken this year of rams with bare breech and backside areas. These rams are the ultimate in easy care - with a bare breech and backside reducing the risk of fly strike and other disease issues. The beauty of a bare breech Cranmore Merino ram is that wool production is not compromised in selection of bare breech - the wool production of the Cranmore Merino bare breech rams is 3.01 kilograms per head averaged over the 38 rams with this trait. Ultimately sheep of this type will not require mulesing.Jillyz <lady wrote: