Multisite randomised controlled trial to evaluate polypropylene clips applied to the breech of lambs as an alternative to mulesing. I: effects on body weight, breech bare area measurements and scores, wrinkle scores and faecal and urine staining

Abstract

Polypropylene clips applied to the breech and tail of lambs increased breech bare area and reduced dag, urine and wrinkle scores. Improvements in these measures of factors that predispose to blowfly strike suggest that the application of clips may reduce the risk of breech flystrike.

The immunobiology of myiasis infections – whatever happened to vaccination?

“…The involvement of PETA who threatened an international boycott of wool from mulesed sheep in 2004 was merely the final act of a long building issue (128). The response of the industry in 2004 was to fund research into a limited range of alternatives to mulesing (129), this amounted to other methods of performing the same operation (130) and an analysis of breeding options to select plain bodied sheep (131), more recently selection for blowfly resistance has joined the list (29), although both these genetic options are obviously long term. As a result, the declaration by the Australian Wool Corporation that they would stop mulesing by 2010 has not been achieved and the boycotts are extending (16).…”

Scientific Opinion on the welfare risks related to the farming of sheep for wool, meat and milk production

“…For instance, Playford et al (2012) suggested that polypropylene clips applied to the breech of lambs produce scar tissue by necrosis and may reduce the risk of flystrike. It consists of cutting away skin from the perianal region using wool-trimming shears, which causes the formation of scar tissue less prone to get dirty.…”

Effect on the breech and tail characteristics of Merino lambs of varying the duration of application of occlusive plastic clips as an alternative to mulesing

“…3 The mules operation is carried out on young sheep to reduce their life-long susceptibility to flystrike. 5 The clips cause ischaemic necrosis of the occluded skin and the dead skin sloughs between 2 and 4 weeks later, resulting in increased bare skin in the perineal and tail areas compared with unclipped, unmulesed control lambs [6][7][8][9] and reduced breech wrinkle, dags and urine staining to levels mid-way between those of unclipped, unmulesed controls and mulesed lambs. 5 The clips cause ischaemic necrosis of the occluded skin and the dead skin sloughs between 2 and 4 weeks later, resulting in increased bare skin in the perineal and tail areas compared with unclipped, unmulesed control lambs [6][7][8][9] and reduced breech wrinkle, dags and urine staining to levels mid-way between those of unclipped, unmulesed controls and mulesed lambs.…”

“…[11][12][13] Studies to date show that clipped lambs have similar behaviour and locomotion as untreated control lambs, cortisol responses that are both lower and less prolonged than those in mulesed lambs, and are 1.5 kg heavier than mulesed lambs 25 days after treatment. 6 In the previous studies, clips were removed from the lambs 10-14 days after application [7][8][9] or remained on the lambs for up to 30 days. 6 In the previous studies, clips were removed from the lambs 10-14 days after application [7][8][9] or remained on the lambs for up to 30 days.…”

“…Welfare concerns with mulesing have led to research on numerous alternatives, 4 including the development of occlusive plastic clips for application to the loose skin on either side of the perineal bare area and the tail. 5 The clips cause ischaemic necrosis of the occluded skin and the dead skin sloughs between 2 and 4 weeks later, resulting in increased bare skin in the perineal and tail areas compared with unclipped, unmulesed control lambs [6][7][8][9] and reduced breech wrinkle, dags and urine staining to levels mid-way between those of unclipped, unmulesed controls and mulesed lambs. 6 The clips have less effect on lambs than surgical mulesing, based on both behavioural 10,11 and physiological measures.…”