It’s long been said that “Australia was built on the sheep’s back”... For nearly 200 years, our merino wool has been celebrated by the international textiles world.

But now, sheep farmers are facing heat - from international animal rights groups, and the fashion industry - to end the practice of “mulesing”. That’s the procedure where folds of skin are cut from around a lamb’s tail end...  Animal rights groups believe say it’s painful and cruel; Farmers say it’s a necessity, because if they don’t their sheep risk becoming flyblown.

• What are your thoughts? Do you think that reducing pain is important, or are animal activists over-reacting?

• Should sheep farmers be required to find alternatives, or use methods to reduce pain in the process?

• And are you a farmer or involved in the wool industry somehow? What is your experience?

• How important is the use of mulesing… Theres alternatives being suggested  - do they seem feasible solutions to you?