Australian wool marketer Jemalong Wool said new data showed growers mulesing with pain relief had gained premiums of up to 60c/kg for fine-micron Merino wool.

Technical services manager David Quirk said he strongly encouraged clients to use anaesthetic Tri-Solfen when mulesing and “those who don’t use it are fast realising there’s just no excuse”.

“On the back of our data, a client with 5000 Merino ewes has decided to use pain relief for the first time this season, and another who was sceptical rationalised it this way: if we could get him a 25c/kg premium and he grows 4kg of wool on that lamb, there’s a dollar,” Mr Quirk said.

“If Tri-Solfen costs him a dollar, then it’s cost-neutral - and it’s once in the lifetime of the animal, so why not?”

Mr Quirk’s comments came as the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) broadened the approved uses of the widely-used product to include lamb castration and tail docking.

Jemalong Wool, which has branches in Forbes, Cooma and Tamworth, had found its use created many business efficiencies and animal welfare benefits, managing director Rowan Woods said.

“Data we have sourced from the Australian Wool Exchange has been analysed by us, and from that we have been able to identify a premium in the order of 20-30c/kg for this season in Merino lambswool alone, and the premium exists across the full range of Merino wool types, with up to 60c/kg for a fine micron,” Mr Woods said.

“Wool producers are primarily concerned with the welfare of their livestock and are now increasingly willing to adopt Tri-Solfen pain relief, knowing that not only is the cost covered but premiums exist for wool sold carrying the ‘PR’ pain relief symbol in the Jemalong Wool sale catalogue.

"All the while, wool producers know they are performing industry best practice and supporting the ethical treatment of the animal.”

Mr Woods said consumers were demanding to know about the sustainability, traceability and ethics of products.

“For wool, that means coming from a place where the welfare of lambs is paramount, and that’s where pain relief comes in.”