To: ManyMoose who wrote (101593 ) 4/22/2005 7:15:04 PM From: Grainne Read Replies (2) | Respond to Mulesing is done in Australia. Merino sheep--the sheep that settlers brought to Australia (and New Zealand--are more suited for cool weather climates like Scotland. In warm weather maggots attach to them near their back ends, the most attractive place for flies. Instead of choosing another kind of sheep and starting over, the farmers cut these huge chunks of flesh off of all the lambs, so scar tissue forms and wool doesn't grow there. This is the practice that causes a 72-day healing process. Many of the lambs don't survive. They are in shock, and in immense pain. The farmers are unwilling to take any economic loss, so I don't think they are receptive to changing their practices. Almost all of the wool you wear is made from Merino sheep. Also all the other sheepskin products like slippers and seat covers that are sold in America most likely come from these sheep. If you absolutely must wear wool, woven wool products from the British Isles countries are more likely made from their domestic sheep. After enduring mulesing and the barbaric ruthless Australia and New Zealand sheep farmers, when then their productive life is gone these sheep are put on huge ships without adequate food and water, crowded together without the flocks they came from where they made friends, and shipped off to Middle Eastern markets where there throats are slit ritualistically, after an ordeal of several months. A lot of them die on the way, though.savethesheep.com
