NEW SOUTH WALES – The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) has finally reached a verdict after three months of deliberations over whether to change its 2019 National Wool Declaration (NWD), choosing to scrap suggested revisions to the definitions on mulesing.
The decision means freeze branding – the practice of using liquid nitrogen to prevent parasitic infection on a sheep’s breech – will continue to be defined as non-mulesing. This, atleast until trials of the practice are completed to determine whether any harm is afflicted on the animals.
“This review will take place within 12 months or when the results of the scheduled trials, providing clear animal welfare outcomes, are available, whichever comes first,” Mark Grave, AWEX CEO, said in a statement.
