2. AWI’s flystrike management approach

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AWI’s approach to managing flystrike risk is based on two key principles:

1. best practice evidence-based science.
2. stepwise sustainable animal welfare improvements.

Reflecting this, AWI has a comprehensive flystrike prevention welfare R&D program. This program has both long term and short term aims.

The ultimate longer-term aim is to remove the need for mulesing to prevent flystrike in Australian sheep through:

1. advances in non-invasive management practices such as crutching, jetting, fly trapping and nutrition
2. genetic research and enhanced breeding for flystrike resistance.

The more immediate or short term aim is to provide methods to replace the practice of traditional mulesing (performed without pain relief) with welfare-improved practices including:

3. welfare-improved surgical procedure with pain relief
4. non surgical methods of removing breech wrinkle, such as flystrike prevention clips and intradermal technology.

This is in recognition that breeding programs can take time, and many sheep will remain vulnerable in the interim. This is an evidence-based, welfare science approach.

Strong progress is being made. A significant proportion of farmers have been able to remove the need for the traditional procedure in some or all of their sheep. In those cases where the risk to sheep remains high, many farmers are replacing it with welfare-improved practices – such as welfare-improved surgery with pain relief or breech strike prevention clips – while longer term breeding programs are underway.