After coming under the scanner and renewed pressure from leading European and US textile and clothing retail industry associations in a bid to outlaw the practice of mulesing sooner rather than later, the Australian wool industry has started to explore options for the process.
Skintraction, the new alternative for mulesing is already in its early research and development phase and has shown some encouraging results for both breech modification and welfare. The technology involves a needle-free intradermal treatment of sodium lauryl sulphate, a harmless surfactant currently widely used in toothpaste, shampoo and lotions.
During the process, this is administered to the skin, breaking down the vascular structure and the nerves in that piece of skin, causes the skin to go hard and form a hard scab which effectively stops wool from growing. The application is said to involve very little stress for the animal and contains powerful local antiseptic, benzol alcohol.
