The wool that we process in our woollen mill is sourced almost exclusively from Australia and it is without exception fine Merino wool, as it can be felted particularly well. Also, it can be used to produce particularly fine woollen fabrics. The airy ripples also form a natural cushion of air, which isolates the human body and ensures constant moisture regulation. Synthetic materials can hardly keep up with such positive properties.
Mulesing is a practice that is mostly used on Merino sheep in Australia. This involves removing a piece of skin from the tail area of young lambs with a special, very sharp knife (like a razor blade). This creates a smooth, wool-free surface on which flies cannot nest their eggs. The problem with this treatment is that mulesing takes place without painkillers and narcotics and causes great agony for the animals. Follow-up treatment is usually not carried out. This means that the wounds can quickly become infected and form a good nesting site for the flies again. These flies also like to lay their eggs in open wounds. Sheep can then suffer from fly infestation despite mulesing and even die from it.
We have therefore decided to rely entirely on mulesing-free Merino wool from 2020 in order to spare our animal suppliers this hardship and torment. In the long term, only special breeding is the best alternative for the animals. They are specially bred to reduce wool growth and wrinkling in the anus area. Research is also being carried out into developing resistance to the infestation. Further options are safe insecticides and vaccinations to avoid infestation or to create resistance to the flies.