Manual a handy mulesing tool
The first guides to sheep mulesing were published in the 1920s and 1930s, when John Hawkes William Mules recorded his pioneering work to improve the health and welfare of the Australian sheep. Since then, various materials of an advisory or extension nature have been prepared, but have never been collated into one manual.
The sheep industry has welcomed the National Mulesing Accreditation Manual, now available free to all woolgrowers courtesy of AWI.
The 91 pages of information were put together by Deniliquin-based Ian Evans, the NSW Department of Primary Industries' district livestock officer (sheep and wool), who is also the NSW sheep ectoparasite control coordinator. AWI funded development of the manual, published by Kondinin Group Industry Training in conjunction with the Livestock Contractors Association (LCA).
The contents are broken into a summary, preparation and planning, mulesing equipment, chemical and animal health product use and mulesing procedures.
"Advisory or extension material is a recent phenomenon, and many colleagues and former colleagues have produced material that conveys information about mulesing procedures," Mr Evans says. "Much of this work has partially, wholly or in concept, been used in the compilation of the manual.
"I never considered preparing the manual as research - it's more like a literature review, where I took a whole heap of slightly related pieces that have been around since the 1970s and put them together. I then had to fill in the gaps."
Helping fill those gaps were the contractors, who Mr Evans says have worked closely with state agricultural departments over the years to improve practices and refine skills.
"We wanted a manual that would be the foundation for learning about correct mulesing procedures: a series of building blocks that could be used as a reference point whenever a contractor or producer came across a different or challenging situation.
"The section on grinding, setting and sharpening shears is virtually completely new. In this area I particularly wanted to capture the expertise and knowledge of LCA's chief mulesing instructor Gordon Godson. Gordon has been - and continues to be - extremely generous in sharing this with the sheep industry, and I wanted to make sure that a permanent record of this vital area of knowledge and skills was recorded for posterity."
The manual forms the technical basis of the National Mulesing Assurance Program (NMAP), the initiative of the Australian wool industry to meet its commitment to the application of best practice in mulesing. Stage one of NMAP accreditation requires the candidate to pass a written test. Stage two of accreditation requires the candidate to demonstrate practical competence in mulesing.
The manual contains the information for a candidate to commence NMAP accreditation and to meet the welfare standards stipulated in the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: the Sheep.
The emphasis in the manual, as in the practical assessment, is on avoiding removing bare skin, not damaging the selvage (fascia membrane covering the muscle), strict hygiene, ensuring symmetry of the mules and correct maintenance and sharpness of equipment.
Mr Evans says attention to these areas will ensure mulesing is carried out to the highest possible standard, minimising stress to the animals, optimising hygiene and providing better protection against breech strike.
In addition, the manual contains much useful information about related procedures such as tail docking and vaccination - which, while not required knowledge under the NMAP, will help woolgrowers and contractors obtain the best results when undertaking these procedures.
About 90 per cent of Merino sheep in Australia are mulesed and most sheep owners are aware of the benefits of mulesing, which include:
- lifelong insurance against breech strike;
- improved welfare of sheep throughout their lives;
- reduced shearing cuts and damage to ewes;
- increased ease of crutching and shearing;
- increased productivity;
- reduced stain in wool; and
- improved economic sheep values.
"What happens in the industry come 1 January 2010 is yet to be decided," Mr Evans says. "In the meantime, correct and safe mulesing of sheep contributes greatly to these animals experiencing a long and healthy life."
More information: to receive a copy of the National Mulesing Accreditation Manual, or to register for NMAP, call 1800 221 076
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