Australian Wool, Peta, Cruelty Free, etc.

[City & Country]

Hello all -

I think this is probably a hot-button topic, and one that has been explored before (I did a search of prior posts), but as the last thread went all over the map as far as topics go (but WAS a lot of fun to read!), I wanted to ask again what knitters' thoughts were regarding Australian wool.

I'm not a PETA person, for various reasons, but prefer that animals be given as humane a life as possible (I am a F.A.C.T. supporter). Through an e-mail well over a year ago, I heard about the whole Australian merino wool controversy, and decided to boycott wool from Australia. As peru seems to be supplying more and more wool, at inexpensive prices, my boycott hasn't been too difficult on my wallet.

However, the issue arose again this past Saturday when I visited Seaport Yarns here in NYC. Andrea, the very nice woman who owns the business, suggested I consider 'Aussie Wool' rather than the 'Brown Sheep Nature Spun' I was looking for. She felt it was a better deal for the money. When I told her of my concern, she said that the wool products she buys from Australia come from smaller farms (there was another brand the name of which I can't remember) where they care for their sheep well and wouldn't WANT to damage their own flock.

I didn't buy any then (I wanted to be consistent with my wool and I had already bought 2 of the 3 colors needed in Brown Sheep), but thought I'd throw the topic out for your thoughts.

By the way, for those who don't know, F.A.C.T. is the 'Food Animal Concerns Trust' which recognizes that, while people eat meat from animals, there is no need for those animals to be treated cruelly during their lifespan. They were big in the 'nest egg' movement (free ranging chickens).

Thanks for reading. I look forward to hearing YOUR thoughts!

[LilHuskiesFootBallMom]

i see it this way: if you have ANY concerns or doubts about whether or not something conflicts your beliefs... stick to your beliefs. you could probably do a search online or through your group to find out what's changed and what hasn't. This is something i can't get my dh to comprehend... i refuse to wear leather/suade/etc. I refuse to eat red meat (personal choice, i used to love it but since going low to no carb i can't even stand the smell of it), so on and so forth. I can't use wool (allergy) but if i were in your place, i'd do my research first.

[Susan P.]

City and Country. I am a very proud Australian so let me state that from the outset.

Let's deal with some global facts because why one would concentrate on Australia - and why PETA did - is highly questionable.

Is the sheep indigenous to Australia? No. It is indigenous to America? No. Thus where ever you have animals not indigenous to a country you have a greater chance of ill issues resulting.

There are breeds of sheep that do not require mulesing. Look that up and see if you can find breeders who spin and sell their yarn. The merino does need mulesing (as this time) so any country that is selling yarn from large flocks is probably using mulesing. Not just Australia, any country.

I don't like mulesing but I like a fly blown sheep less. I've seen them and it is horrific. There is no current process to prevent mulesing with large flocks but a LOT of scientific work is going into research and those research bodies have given themselves a very limited time frame to arrive at an alternative.

In terms of the merino at least, you would have to purchase from someone with a small flock and/or someone with the labour force required to check sheep at least every second day for fly strike to feel your purchase was well placed.

So, go online and check breeders who have either sheep that don't require the process or breeders who have small enough flocks/land et al and who guarantee they are able to manage their flocks without the process.

You need to keep this in mind for wool bought from ANY country. Australia was targeted for socio-political reasons and I do not support such exclusive targeting.

PETA has been proven to not be guilt free from environmental issues itself and hence I would suggest as I have, not listening to the biased 'research' from any one lobby group and rather do your own research on breeds and breeders. Easy to do because I have found such people online before myself.

[Susan P.]

re my first comment about questionable. I believe YOU were well motivated in your question. I don't believe all the hype from other quarters was, as equally.

[sig]

I've never heard of this before and i'm just horrified! What i'm wondering is if they do this only in Australia? And if they do, why is it? Sorry, i'll keep searching for info on this subject, i just whanted to say that i was

[Susan P.]

No, it is NOT done only in Australia. We need to be mindful that if this goes offtopic too much then we are not really talking knitting. Mulesing is done to prevent flystrike and maggots developing in the flesh. They cut off a stretch of skin and wool around the bottom area. No anaethetic.
It sounds cruel and it's not nice but it IS better than flystrike. I have been around a LOT of sheep farmers and they all care for their sheep; they do. As I said, if it worries you buy wool from breeds that doesn't need it or from breeders who can manage small flocks without the need of the practice.

But unless you are vegetarian or vegan one needs to consider how cattle and chickens et al are farmed and killed for meat production and so on.

I suggest we call a halt to this topic now. Not because I am trying to have the last say but because we're not talking knitting now as such. You could start the subject in the OT forum, however this topic HAS been done before.

Just please all do me a favour and don't try to claim Australia is the devil on this issue as it is not. All countries could do better in terms of their large scale animal production houses.

[GinnyG]

Let's deal with some global facts because why one would concentrate on Australia - and why PETA did - is highly questionable.

.

EVERYTHING PETA does is highly questionable!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sig]

sorry, i was just asking, i had never heard of this before and my intention was not to offend you, as i said, i was just asking.

[Susan P.]

You didn't offend me sig albeit I had already said it was not confined to Australia. My ending comment was to the forum collectively. I can see how in the context you thought it meant for you and I regret I didn't make the comment clearer.

[sig]