Brands unite to end live lamb cutting in wool industry

Global animal welfare group Four Paws has gathered backing from 100 global fashion brands urging the Australian wool sector to end live lamb cutting, a practice that inflicts harm on ten million lambs annually.

In a ‘letter of intent regarding brands,’ Four Paws and companies like Zara, Patagonia, Hugo Boss, New Look, Rhea, and Active Brands are calling on the Australian wool sector to cease the cruel mulesing (live lamb cutting) method by 2030, and shift to humane, industry-tested alternatives.

Rebecca Picallo Gil, the wool campaign leader at Four Paws, noted in a statement: “This worldwide surge of backing conveys a definite message. The moment has come for a compassionate answer to an international issue. The wool industry needs to adapt to satisfy the requirements of contemporary brands and customers seeking cruelty-free fashion.

Four Paws claims that Australia is the sole nation globally where live lamb cutting is both legally allowed and frequently carried out. Since Australia accounts for 80 percent of the fine merino wool in the global fashion market, brands worldwide must urge the industry to adopt cruelty-free practices.

The live lamb skinning process entails removing sizable strips of skin from the hindquarters of lambs aged two to twelve weeks, often without sufficient pain relief, if any is administered. According to Four Paws, this inflicts intense pain, terror, and anxiety on the animals.

This lamb mutilation is employed as a fast and cost-effective way to avert fly infestations (flystrike). Nonetheless, there are other approaches, including the breeding of plain-bodied sheep that are inherently resistant to fly infestations and the effective management of the animals. This can eradicate both flystrike and lamb slaughtering. Furthermore, studies in the industry and reports from farmers indicate that plain-bodied sheep are linked to increased lamb survival rates.