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AWI Chairman reaffirms board position on flystrike prevention

24
Nov '08

The new Chairman of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Wal Merriman, has reaffirmed that there has been no fundamental change to AWI's position on mulesing as a result of the Board election two days ago.

Mr Merriman said a resolution of the previous Board in regard to flystrike prevention passed in March this year was still the position.

"I have seen much misinformation since the election of the new board and felt it was important to set the record straight," Mr Merriman said.

"Everyone on the new Board wants to see an end to mulesing as soon as possible but it can only be achieved when viable alternatives are in place.

"Under my Chairmanship AWI will continue the necessary research to find alternatives, but the nature of research and development is such that it is a complex procedure which requires testing and trialling and then peer assessment before new animal welfare measures can be brought to the marketplace.

"While it's my genuine hope that this can be achieved by the designated phase out date, it's also my hope that animal activists realise that the Australian industry is genuinely seeking viable alternatives.

"Genetic selection has already allowed many woolgrowers a better way of dealing with flystrike management issues on their properties. The National Wool Declaration (NWD) allows buyers to source various types of wool that will satisfy their corporate social responsibility requirements.

He said AWI would continue to fund research into finding viable alternatives and in line with the earlier board resolution, continued to support the use of pain relief in those cases where woolgrowers mulesed their lambs.

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