Aussie Wool Farmers in Big Trouble

I feel that it is immoral, cruel, sociopathic, and less than human. All profit motives for doing such things should be hindered with prejudice. No living, feeling creature should need to suffer in the service of trolls such as this while we stand on the sidelines and pat ourselves on the back for doing good deeds.

All behavior of this nature is indicative of the cascade of issues, ingrained into the social fabric that we face in order to effect positive change. The very fact that this happens on a scale of any size and continues to occur for the sake of profit no less proves that we are all responsible for so much suffering that our “gang”, our “blood”, our “people, “our “race” causes, without being stopped.

This is disgusting and cruel.  I can't believe this actually happens!  Would anyone do this to their child to “protect” them from disease?  I have gotten to a point where I can view all things as part of me.  I look at one of my cats and would never be able to let the thought cross my mind, let alone pick up a tool to do anything like this. I hope this practice is banned ASAP.

As a former veterinary tech I'm sadly not shocked by hearing about practices such as this.  I've seen all manner of animal cruelty caused by human stupidity and ignorance.  Like the others I'm deeply disappointed and angered to learn that such barbaric practices are even allowed to take place in the first place.  I have a hard time believing that the incentive of such a practice is to prevent disease.  Common sense dictates that when you hastily and haphazardly slice away at fur and flesh, that what you end up doing is exposing open wounds to the elements, risking bacterial infection and actually INCREASING the chance that an animal will become weak and sick.  And if the farmers can't cultivate enough compassion to mindfully tend to their flocks with the kind of vigilance that could actually cut down on the blowfly infestation, then I doubt that they care enough to look after the wounds after they've inflicted them.  It seems to me that the very least we can do as intelligent, compassionate and supposedly superior beings, is to treat those creatures that we choose to dominate, enslave and raise for human profit…with kindness while trying to the best of our ability NOT to cause them undue pain and suffering. 

Completely down with Lore. Way. And 3 Moons. Way. Some sheep farmers could probobly have thier noses surgically shut, because noses are a common area of infection, and can spread infection to other stock..I mean…ranchers…

I'm sure that there is such an ointment, but I'm equally as sure that the farming industry just sees this as a waste of time and money.  With most parasites the main cause of infestation arises from unsanitary conditions.  The blowfly's aren't so much attracted to the sheep as they are all the dirt and filth that can stick to the back end of a sheep.  It's a vicious circle: farmers make money from wool, so they breed sheep who can produce amounts of wool that exceed what a sheep needs to grow.  Anyone who has ever had a long-haired cat or dog knows that keeping their fur clean, untangled and free from dirt and debris is part of taking care of them.  If you don't then it becomes matted, dirty and prone to skin irritation and infestation.  The article mentions that they will try persuading them to   breed sheep that aren't as susceptible to fly strike, but that isn't really fixing the problem, it's just side-stepping it in favor of an easier option.  It still doesn't change the way that the sheep are cared for, which I think everyone here will agree, is the real problem.

I live in Australia and have been watching this issue, as it has a huge potential to affect the Australian economy.  Right now, farmers have it pretty tough, so having this issue raised in campaigns like this one is really making them hurt (I think PETA waged the first campaign??).  

However, while I have sympathy for farmers, raising sheep in Australia has bothered me for a long time. In the first place, I could never understand why they couldn't be anaesthetised while this apparently “necessary” process took place.  Secondly, they are not native, and land has been cleared in large areas to accomodate them. This land previously supported kangaroos and trees, amongst many other native animals that are extinct or under serious threat.  having animals with hooves like sheep and cows further increases risk of drought.  This risk can be reduced with certain farming methods, but kangaroos have softer feet and are perfect for our landscape.

In a way, I believe nature will eventually have her say and force the removal of sheep from the country, but I wonder what will be left behind in their place - maybe just  feral camels.  While Australia had a reputation that it “rides on the sheep's back”, this will surely be challenged soon.