Sheep friendly – no Mulesing
Da quando ho aperto il negozietto di lana ho scoperto una passione anche per le pecore. Logico, senza di loro ci mancherebbero tante delle qualità di filati che più usiamo.
Già un paio d’anni fa avevo letto della pratica del Mulesing. È un metodo usato da certi allevatori in Neo Zelanda e Australia. Consiste nel togliere della pelle attorno alla coda per evitare che si annidano delle larve di mosca in quella zona.
Non era facile ottenere più informazioni e quasi impossibile per i piccoli negozianti, sapere se le pecore che hanno prodotto la lana in vendita, avevano subito questo trattamento.
Sempre più lanifici hanno ripiegato su lana prodotta in Africa o Sud-America, dove quella mosca non c’è. Lanartus mi aveva informato che usavano praticamente soltanto lana prodotta là.
Ora finalmente c’è il logo che ci permette di riconoscere la lana prodotta senza il Mulesing.
La ditta Lang sta cambiando già da un po’ di tempo. Ora tutte le qualità di lana Merino sono prodotte senza quella pratica.
Nel frattempo sono state adattate la maggior parte delle fascette, ma è un cambiamento ancora in corso, quindi non tutte le lane prodotte senza Mulesing sono proviste del logo. Però tutte quelle con logo sono controllate e certificate.
Ora sempre più pecorelle ritrovano il sorriso!
Ecco il testo originale della Lang:
LANGYARNS – NO MULESING CAMPAIGN
In 2017 LANGYARNS decided to convert the merino qualities we use to wool from merino sheep, which were guaranteed not to be subjected to the mulesing procedure.
From 2018 Merino qualities which are mulesing-free will be marked with the logo “SHEEP FRIENDLY – NO MULESING”.
Either merino fibres from certified Australian production or from other origins (predominantly South Africa or South America) are used where fly infestation does not occur. In the meantime, large parts of the pure merino yarns (Merino 50, 70, +, 120, 130, 150, 200, 400) delivered by us are produced from mulesing-free fibres. Fibres made of mulesing-free wool have a higher price on the world market. LANGYARNS delivers you with the above defined qualities an added value through the animal-friendly treatment of sheep. Please note that the complete conversion takes time and your retailer of choice will sell off the non-certified balls of course.
What is mulesing?
Mulesing is the removal of the skin around the tail of sheep. It is a procedure used in Australia and New Zealand to prevent fly maggots (myiasis) infestation.
Mulesing is named after John W. H. Mules, who developed this method. While scoring a ewe that had experienced several fly infestations, he slipped and removed a piece of skin. When he applied this to several other sheep, he found that it significantly reduced fly maggot infestation. The process was further developed over the years and became widespread in Australia in the 1930s. Lucilia cuprina, the fly species mainly responsible for myiasis in Australian sheep, was probably introduced from South Africa in the 19th century.
Mulesing is a controversial practice on which there are many different opinions. According to the National Farmers Federation it is the most effective way to minimise the risk of myiasis, as the number of sheep that would otherwise fall victim is estimated with 3,000,000 per year. The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recognises the positive effects of mulesing in sheep. However, AVA also advocates alternatives in the sense of ethically justifiable intensive livestock farming. According to the President of the National Farmers’ Federation, Peter Corish, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not against this procedure in areas where there is no sensible alternative, but recommends research into painless methods as alternatives. The animal rights organisation PETA is strictly against mulesing, which is a cruel and painful method for which there are more “humane” alternatives.
LANGYARNS, February 2019
