A perception by brands the Australian wool industry’s animal welfare practices are not up to acceptable standards has seen some Merino wool processors bypass the country to source wool from New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. This is according to Vitale Barberis Canonico raw material buying manager Davide Fontaneto who said Australia’s position, which did not require mandatory use of analgesic for the surgical mulesing procedure, had damaged the perception of Australian wool across the world.
