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Mulesing is an operation where skin approximately 164 X 94mm is cut from the buttocks and tails of conscious lambs. This removes the folds that attract the blowfly and cause maggot infestation. No anaestectic is used.
Only a small percentage of sheep are susceptible to fly-strike. When all sheep are mulesed, it is impossible to tell which sheep have this genetic weakness. The susceptibility to fly-strike is passed on to the next generation and the round of mulesing and fly-strike continues. In fact, mulesing does not guarantee freedom from fly-strike yet it can leave the lambs susceptible to other problems.
