The mysterious ‘silver bullet’ expected to help resolve the mulesing issue is still a mystery to not only most woolgrowers but also many on the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) board, the organisation developing it.
Last week, it was revealed that a new technology was soon to be announced that has the potential to be a universal alternative to mulesing, although very few details have been mentioned.
The injectable compound is commonly used in the food industry according to director Robyn Clubb and the project has been managed by a sub committee at AWI, involving director Kevin Bell who has been testing the product along with Chris Abell who is believed to be the inventor of the alternative.
Dr Bell told Rural Press at the WA Merino field days that the alternative is unlikely to have residue problems and therefore trials would not have to be conducted in that respect.
The promising collagenase injectable mulesing alternative, three years ago, failed to meet the strict meat residue limits demanded by authorities.
It also produced a wet scab.
It is unknown why the new compound would not meet the same limits under product registrations.
Dr Bell added he was confident the injectable would prevent breech strike, and that from his experience, growers would be more comfortable using it rather than the clips.
The new era of accountability and transparency lauded by AWI chairman Brian van Rooyen a fortnight ago, appears to have been short lived, with at least three and maybe as many as six of the nine member board first learning of the AWI assisted development from the media last week.
A similar lack of information shared amongst the board was seen when director Roger Fletcher learned of the Hugo Boss boycott of Australian wool earlier this year through his gardener.
Dr Abell was not commenting to Rural Press about the technology this week and along with fellow directors Wally Merriman, Roger Fletcher, Chick Olson and Ken Boundy, directed all questions to chairman Brian van Rooyen as is now company policy.
Mr van Rooyen failed to return calls from Rural Press this week.
He has been in West Australia at Merino field days along with Dr Bell and Robin Clubb.
Both Mr van Rooyen and Dr Abells are re-standing in board elections again this year, along with the three new proposed directors John Keniry, Ken Boundy and Robyn Clubb.
Dr Abell is also named as the inventor of the breech clip mulesing alternative but denied having any ongoing personal financial involvement in the clips when questioned by a Senate Estimates hearing earlier this year.
* More information on the new mulesing alternative in the special Merino feature this week in Rural Press weekly rural newspapers across Australia, August 21.
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