Research into alternatives to mulesing

Rothwell, J; Hynd, P. I.; Brownlee, A.; Dolling, M; Williams, S

doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.2007.00116.x

Cited by 30 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The other more recent driver particularly for sheep blowfly control has been animal welfare concerns around the mulesing operation and to a lesser extent tail docking (13,14). Mulesing is the surgical removal of the wool bearing skin on either side of the vulva which regrows as bare skin and is thus much less subject to urine and faecal staining (15). This can reduce the chance of blowfly strike around the tail by over 60% (15), but it is undertaken without anaesthetic and has thus been targeted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and others as a major animal welfare concern (16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The immunobiology of myiasis infections – whatever happened to vaccination?

Sandeman

Bowles

Colwell³

2014

Parasite Immunology

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The current state of myiasis vaccine technologies are reviewed mainly in the primary research genera of Lucilia and Hypoderma. The importance of myiasis flies as primary causes of morbidity and mortality in agricultural species and man has not diminished despite the existence of good control strategies. However, the development of vaccines against myiasis infections has been relatively quiescent for more than 10 years despite the rapid development of genomic and proteomic analysis and of skills in data interpretation. The value of vaccine research in an era of chemical primacy is analysed. In fact, recent findings of drug resistance and the impact of animal welfare concerns should mean a renewed interest in alternative controls. The reasons that this has not been true to date are explored and new possibilities discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The immunobiology of myiasis infections – whatever happened to vaccination?

Sandeman

Bowles

Colwell³

2014

Parasite Immunology

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“…57,176 Although healing times for mulesing have been described to occur from up to 21 days 177 to up to 47 days, 63 these were not directly comparable to SLS treatment owing to the different areas of skin being treated and the much larger wound for mulesing. Resolution of SLS induced skin necrosis involved sequential and overlapping processes of inflammation, proliferation and remodelling.…”

Section: Time Epidermis Superficial Dermis Deep Dermis Subcutis H O Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…154,155 The length of trial period was chosen based on previous studies which reported wound healing occurring between 2 and 4 weeks after topical application of a patented caustic chemical. 57 Because of the small sample size in this qualitative sighting study, it was accepted that the generation of strong, statistically robust conclusions would not be possible based on the results obtained.…”

Section: Preparation Of Sheepmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This in turn, minimized wool dampening by faeces and urine and thus reduced susceptibility to blowfly strike. 56,57 It was initially achieved using a knife to slice off perineal skin folds after the application of 'Burdizzo' clamps to essentially paralyse the nerve endings. Burdizzo clamps were later replaced with 'Rolcut' secateurs which removed skin folds with a crushing and cutting mechanism.…”

Section: Mulesing (The Mule's Operation)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…have shown a reduction in the incidence of breech strike by 81% to 100 %. 15,57 Mulesing results in a net benefit of AUD $100 -130 million per annum from reduction in production losses and sheep mortality. 65 Apart from the prevention of breech flystrike, mulesing confers additional benefits of minimising the requirement for stressful handling procedures such as removal of stained wool or dags (breech wool that is contaminated with faeces), dipping and crutching, and enables simpler shearing.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The mode of action of intra-dermal sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as a chemical alternative to mulesing in sheep

Lee¹

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Sheep blowfly strike imposes significant economic costs of $260 million annually from disruptions to farm management operations 1, 2 associated with high labour cost of controlling flystrike, 3 sheep morbidity and mortality, and loss of wool productivity. 4 Mulesing, the surgical removal of skin from the breech which minimises soiling and reduces susceptibility to flystrike, is performed without anaesthetic and is therefore perceived as cruel and painful as reflected by physiological and behavioural alterations in affected lambs. 5,6 Intra-dermal sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was trialled in this study as a potential chemical alternative to mulesing. A sound mulesing alternative would ideally provide efficient wound healing and hairless scar formation which increases the bare area of the breech while causing minimal discomfort to the animal.In a sighting study, 3 Merino wethers were given intra-dermal injections of SLS at specific sites on the flank which were biopsied at different time points over 28 days. Assessments were made on gross and histological changes of wound healing as well as early behavioural indicators of pain.Based on the results of the sighting study, the following protocol refinements were made for the main study which used 6 Merino wethers, to:1) reduce biopsy frequency with concentration around specimens of histopathologic interest;2) expand lesion parameters and sharpen the grading process;3) improve SLS delivery using a pressurized needleless applicator; 4) incorporate analysis of SLS's mode of action at the ultrastructural level; 5) improve the approach for pain assessment.Treated sheep showed minimal behavioural or postural indicators of pain or discomfort, their appetite was normal and there was a net gain in body weight, when compared with their untreated cohorts. Gross appearance of the treatment site consisted of initial swelling which subsided by day 14 leaving a firm, slightly raised, crust. At day 21, the treated area was depressed and covered by a scab (eschar) which partially sloughed off by day 28.Histological examination revealed necrosis of soft tissue structures (including hair bulbs, collagen, vessels and nerves) in the subcutis and deep dermis at 2 minutes after treatment, followed by subsequent additional ischaemic necrosis of the superficial dermis and epidermis with progressive inflammation, proliferation and remodelling of the wound. Fibroplasia and angiogenesis were accompanied with reepithelialisation starting at day 7, subjacent to areas of full dermal-epidermal

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Husbandry procedures

Stafford

2017

Advances in Sheep Welfare

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Research into alternatives to mulesing

Cited by 30 publications

References 7 publications

The immunobiology of myiasis infections – whatever happened to vaccination?

The immunobiology of myiasis infections – whatever happened to vaccination?

The mode of action of intra-dermal sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as a chemical alternative to mulesing in sheep

Husbandry procedures

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