Sheep are intensely social animals and sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and suffering. There are many issues surrounding the farming of sheep today.
Mulesing
Mulesing is an extremely painful procedure and is generally carried out without anaesthesia. Research shows the pain of mulesing is similar to that of castration, but it lasts longer (up to 48 hours).
Around 50% of lambs born in Australia are mulesed.
To find out more about mulesing, and the various alternatives, please visit the RSPCA Australia website.
Shedding Sheep
Wool from shedded sheep makes up about 12% of the Australian wool market. Keeping sheep in sheds can cause distress through restricting movement and natural behaviours.
To find out more about shedded sheep, please visit the RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase.
