Regenerative farmer Tim Wright, Lana, near Uralla, has managed without mulesing for 20 years by selecting plainer bodied sheep and these days reaps the benefit of a substantial premium for his 16.5 micron wool.
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"I went that way because I hated doing mulesing. I thought it was a band-aid solution to a problem that was genetic," he said.
"If we don't move on Australian wool producers will be kicked in the backside."
Mr Wright, with his older brother Robert, started with pole Lorelmo genetics, looking for easy-care upright sheep with a plainer breech.
"Anything susceptible to fly strike we culled and over the years we have achieved 95 per cent success," he said.
Part of his selection process also involves wool colour with Mr Wright explaining creamy yellow wool attracts flies while a pale colour is less prone. Hands on management is still the best form of protection, with lambs shorn at nine to 11 months of age, and a crutching job carried out just before. Other genetics included Fonthill at Springfield Station, Goulburn, and lately Airlie at Walcha.
In the beginning it was hard to get good pole type super-fine Merino rams, but that has changed, he said.
The brothers also selected for an open face to reduce problem with speargrass, which itself has been reduced through planned, rotational grazing.
Mr Wright admits wool cut is not as high as it was with wrinkled types but by selecting for a dual purpose Merino ewe, the enterprise takes advantage of remarkable lamb prices. This was not always so, and in the beginning lamb prices were quite ordinary.
"It was not unusual to get $30 for a fat lamb back then," Mr Wright said.
To cope with this drought, 160mm this year in a district that averages 700mm, there are no cross bred sheep on Lana.
"Overgrazing is a management issue," he said.
"At times like this we need to take them out."
