Mulesing is the barbaric practice of removing large portions of skin from the hindquarters of sheep to prevent a serious condition known as flystrike (maggot infestation). This is a common affliction of sheep with deep wrinkles in the skin, which provide a moist environment for flies to breed in. The Merino breed is most commonly infested. Flystrike causes infection, toxemia, anorexia, weakness and death if not treated. Tails are routinely docked as well. Breeding techniques exist in which wrinkly-skinned flocks can be transformed into plain-skinned flocks which are less susceptible. The reason that ranchers prefer the more wrinkled variety is due to the higher yield of wool, and thus more profits. These poor animals are suffering brutal mutilation just so that ranchers can profit from a few extra pounds of wool per animal. Please avoid this wool. In fact, please avoid ALL wool products (including lanolin) as these animals are eventually exported for inhumane slaughter when wool production decreases. Thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulesing
