Mulesing

Mulesing is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent flystrike (myiasis). The wool around the buttocks can retain feces and urine, which attracts flies. The tissue that grows in the place of the removed skin does not grow wool, so is less likely to attract the flies that cause flystrike. Mulesing is a common practice in Australia for this purpose, particularly on highly wrinkled Merino sheep. Mulesing is considered by some to be a skilled surgical task although it may be performed by unskilled persons. It should be noted that mulesing can only affect flystrike on the area cut out, and has no effect on flystrike on any other part of the animal's body.