WOOL
How producing Wool impacts animals
~ Behavioural scientist Keith Kendrick - Babraham Institute, Cambridge
​
Many people aren't unaware of how wool production impacts sheep. From the high mortality rate of lambs bred into bitterly cold winter conditions with limited shelter, painful procedures administered with little pain relief, selective breeding, annual shearing and early slaughter, sheep face short and often brutal lives in the wool production industry.
Fast Facts
Selective Breeding
MAXIMUM PROFIT; AT WHAT COST
Did you know that sheep used to naturally give birth to just one lamb at a time? Over the years, selective breeding has changed that. Now, it's common for ewes to have twins, triplets, or even quadruplets! While this might sound like a boon, it has a downside. Multiple births often result in smaller, more vulnerable lambs that are at greater risk of succumbing to conditions like hypothermia.
The mothers, or ewes, are not spared from risks either. Those giving birth to multiples are more likely to face life-threatening complications during delivery.
​
Let's talk wool. Domestic sheep have been selectively bred to produce more of it—and they can't shed it like their wild ancestors did. This creates a problem for temperature regulation, especially in changing seasons.
​
If you've ever heard of Merino sheep, they make up a whopping 70% of Australia's flock. These sheep have been bred to have extra skin folds, boosting their wool production and profitability. However, this 'extra' comes at a cost—the folds trap moisture and create a breeding ground for flies, leading to painful and often fatal conditions like flystrike.
​
So you see, the wool industry has more layers than you might have thought. And not all of them are comfy and warm.
Lamb & Ewe Mortality Rate
25% OF LAMBS DIE IN THEIR FIRST 48 HOURS
Each year in Australia, a staggering 10-15 million lambs don't survive their first two days, mainly due to exposure, neglect, and lack of nourishment. Surprisingly, there's no legal mandate for providing these vulnerable newborns with shelter, even though they're born in the chilly winter months and can't regulate their body temperature.
​
So why do sheep give birth in winter? It's a strategic move by farmers. By having lambs born in winter, they can wean them by the fertile spring season. This allows the lambs to grow more quickly on lush pastures, cutting down on the cost of extra feed. However, this tactic comes with a downside: Ewes giving birth to multiple lambs face higher risks during delivery. They are more susceptible to prolapses and pregnancy-related issues that can leave them incapacitated, making them easy targets for predators.
​
Painful Procedures
ROUTINE CRUELTY
Because Sheep are classified as livestock, they fall through the cracks of animal welfare laws, leaving them vulnerable to procedures that cause extreme suffering, all in the name of profit. Let's unpack some of these practices:
​
Mulesing: Particularly common among Merino sheep, mulesing involves cutting away the skin from the sheep's rear end—painful and brutal. While the industry argues this prevents flystrike, regular wool trimming around the rear—known as "crutching"—is an equally effective, but less cruel alternative. However, it's often bypassed due to higher costs and effort.
​
Tail Docking: Surprisingly, sheep are born with long tails that serve practical and expressive functions. Yet, these tails are often removed using one of three painful methods—none of which require pain relief. The methods include:
-
Knife: Severing the tail with a sharp—and sometimes flame-heated—knife.
-
Banding: Applying a tight rubber band to cut off blood circulation, leading to nerve death and eventual tail loss.
-
Heated Iron: Scalding the tail off with an extremely hot iron, causing intense pain but minimizing blood loss.
​
Castration: Astonishingly, it's permissible to castrate lambs without any pain relief, using either cutting instruments or rubber rings.
While sheep are considered little more than products, their welfare will come second to the business owners capacity to profit from them. Would you still consider wool a 'natural' and 'humane' textile knowing this?
Shearing
NOT JUST A HAIRCUT
Shearing is the process of clipping the wool from sheep. It is a process that has been exposed as consistently violent and abusive.
​
At its worst, investigations in Australia have shown shearers punching sheep, pinning them down by a knee on their necks, throwing, stomping, hitting them, and when they are significantly cut during the shearing process, stitching bloody, gaping wounds without training or pain relief.
​
Shearing is physically challenging work and does not pay well. Shearers are generally paid per animal shorn or by weight of wool. This pay method incentivises speed, inevitably resulting in rougher handling, more careless work, and injury.
Today, most sheep require shearing, but only because of selective breeding, which means they no longer shed their wool.
Lives cut short
EARLY SLAUGHTER
As sheep age, their wool quality decreases, as human hair does, so they are no longer profitable for wool production.
Sheep raised for wool are typically killed at just 5 to 6 years old, well before they reach their natural lifespan of up to15 years.
Some wool comes from lambs who, at between 6 and 9 months are shorn before being slaughtered for meat.
Live Exports
THE WOOL INDUSTRY IS THE LIVE EXPORTS INDUSTRY
Sheep that are no longer profitable for wool production still make the wool industry hundreds of millions of dollars when sold for Live Export.
Over the past six years (2017 to 2022), the Australian live export industry sent 5,866,360 sheep to be slaughtered overseas. According to Government reports, 25,422 of these sheep died during the journey.
Investigations have shown Live Export ships are overcrowded and vastly inadequate in providing basic needs like clean water and personal space. Sheep on the long voyages have been documented by those on ship drowning in weeks' worth of urine and faeces, even being cooked alive inside the hot ship.
​
Warm without Wool
Wear it kind
While wool is often marketed as a 'natural' product, it's essential to understand the stark contrast between what it's promoted as and the reality for the sheep involved. These sheep are selectively bred for maximum profit, often neglecting their welfare, leading to high lamb mortality rates and susceptibility to painful conditions like fly strike.
​
Beyond animal welfare concerns, wool production takes a heavy toll on the environment. It contributes to deforestation, land degradation, and the emission of greenhouse gases. Shockingly, it's been calculated that an 'Australian wool knit sweater emits about 27 times more greenhouse gas emissions than a cotton knit sweater.'
​
Consider this: each year, between 10-15 million lambs perish within their first 48 hours of life. Additionally, in Australia, 21 million sheep and 5.8 million cattle are slaughtered for meat and skins. Every single one of these animals valued their lives.
​
You have the power to make a difference and create a more compassionate world. One impactful step is leaving wool out of your wardrobe. The good news is that today, there are a growing number of alternatives to wool that are not only better for the environment but also spare countless animals from a life of suffering.
​
Join the movement - 'Lambs are for Lovin.' Spare millions of sheep and cattle from a short and brutal life and a terrifying, painful death by choosing animal-free alternatives over animal-derived fibers.
Kinder Options
Hemp
Hemp, a versatile plant-based fiber, is commonly used to produce knitwear. It's breathable, robust, and pesticide-free, making it land-use efficient, similar to other plant fibers. Hemp can also be blended with cotton for added softness.
Cotton
Sustainable cotton can be sourced in many ways, including recycled cotton, rain-fed, organic, and through using regenerative methods. Cotton, a biodegradable plant, is versatile for knitwear, jackets, suiting, and more, available in various weights.
Tencel
Tencel, a type of lyocell fabric, is derived from sustainably sourced eucalyptus trees, not old growth forests. Its closed-loop production system recycles 99% of water and chemicals. Tencel is known for its silky smooth feel and thermoregulation properties."
Bamboo
Bamboo, a fast-growing and robust plant, thrives without the need for pesticides, promoting healthy growth with minimal soil impact.