AWI is calling for expressions of interest for 15 agriculture and vet sheep consultants across the nation to be trained and accredited to deliver the training to at least 600 woolgrowers across Australia.

The new ‘Moving to a Non-Mulesed Merino Enterprise' project is targeted at woolgrowers who are, or planning to, manage flystrike without mulesing and aligns with the industry's Wool 2030 strategy.

This five-year program adds to existing flystrike management workshops, AWI stated.

AWI Chairman, Jock Laurie, said AWI remains committed to supporting the rights of all growers to choose how they manage their flock.

"AWI recognises the critical importance of all flystrike prevention measures and continues to support all woolgrowers in their choices through provision of a diversity of best practice information, designed to deliver the best outcomes for sheep, across a range of different climate and operating environments," Laurie said.

AWI is responding to increased requests for information and support from woolgrowers seeking assistance to specifically reduce their reliance on mulesing. It was a key finding of the June 2021 AWI and Meat & Livestock Australia Wool and Sheep Meat Survey, that 42 per cent of respondents currently mulesing said they intended to cease mulesing in the next five years.

‘Moving to a Non-Mulesed Merino Enterprise' is stage 4 of a flystrike extension program designed to provide woolgrowers and their advisors with a range of options to assist them with flystrike prevention and treatment, including one-on-one support and coaching for woolgrowers.

It involves a one-day workshop and promotion of AWI-accredited industry advisors capable of providing hands-on, one-on-one assistance targeted at woolgrowers looking for additional support and coaching to implement their property-specific, whole-of-farm plan.

The ‘Moving to a Non-Mulesed Merino Enterprise' project is the latest stage of a $1,000,500, six-year extension program.

Whilst AWI has invested significantly in projects to support woolgrowers looking to move to a non-mulesed enterprise (including research in breeding for flystrike resistance), this is the first significant AWI investment in an active extension program targeting woolgrowers looking for support to reduce reliance on mulesing.

This announcement takes AWI's investment in breeding for flystrike resistance-related Research, Development and Extension projects since 2005 to $10.4 million.