❓ Hon Amanda Dorn questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the government's approach to mulesing, advocating for a phase-out strategy instead of relying on pain relief. The Minister defends mulesing as a necessary tool and highlights research into alternative flystrike management.
AnsweredQoN 1106Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Mulesing
1106. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the
minister's previous answer, which stated that 90 per cent of mulesed merino
lambs receive pain relief.
(1) Is the minister aware that this pain relief is
applied after the procedure, meaning lambs experience the full pain of having
skin cut away, something that would be unlawful if done to a cat or dog?
(2) Given that pain relief provides only temporary
mitigation and does not address welfare or social licence issues, why is the government
pursuing a pain-relief strategy rather than a phase-out strategy?
(3) Will the government commit to a transition
plan towards non-mulesed sheep, as successfully demonstrated by its own
research flocks since 2008, and, if not, why not?
1106. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the
minister's previous answer, which stated that 90 per cent of mulesed merino
lambs receive pain relief.
(1) Is the minister aware that this pain relief is
applied after the procedure, meaning lambs experience the full pain of having
skin cut away, something that would be unlawful if done to a cat or dog?
(2) Given that pain relief provides only temporary
mitigation and does not address welfare or social licence issues, why is the government
pursuing a pain-relief strategy rather than a phase-out strategy?
(3) Will the government commit to a transition
plan towards non-mulesed sheep, as successfully demonstrated by its own
research flocks since 2008, and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) There are registered pre-operative pain-relief
products that can be applied prior to mulesing. The Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends a multimodal approach,
being a combination of local anaesthetic and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug for optimum animal welfare.
(2)–(3) Mulesing remains an important tool
to manage animal welfare outcomes for many sheep producers in regions prone to high
flystrike risk. DPIRD has been involved in researching practical methods to
reduce flystrike, such as genetics, chemical application, tail docking, time of
crutching and shearing, to help producers manage flystrike and transition to
non-mulesed sheep. WA has committed to implement the nationally agreed
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for sheep, including
mandated use of appropriate pain relief.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) There are registered pre-operative pain-relief
products that can be applied prior to mulesing. The Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends a multimodal approach,
being a combination of local anaesthetic and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug for optimum animal welfare.
(2)–(3) Mulesing remains an important tool
to manage animal welfare outcomes for many sheep producers in regions prone to high
flystrike risk. DPIRD has been involved in researching practical methods to
reduce flystrike, such as genetics, chemical application, tail docking, time of
crutching and shearing, to help producers manage flystrike and transition to
non-mulesed sheep. WA has committed to implement the nationally agreed
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for sheep, including
mandated use of appropriate pain relief.
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