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== Introduction ==
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This article has been assigned to [[User:Bethany.Chester]]. While it's in the Draft namespace, please refrain from anything but minor edits unless you are a topic editor, copy editor, or managing editor. This note will be deleted when the article is moved from Draft to the Main namespace.
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In this article, we provide some general information about wool and explore the ethical issues surrounding its production. We reveal that wool is not as innocuous as most believe it to be and that sheep suffer abuses, sometimes extreme, in the process of wool production.
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We also expose the reality behind several wool certification programs, including the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), the Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS), Certified Merino Growers, and ZQ. In addition, we discuss the environmental destruction caused by the wool industry.
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This article describes how wool cannot be considered vegan because it involves the exploitation of and harm of sheep for something we do not need to survive. Furthermore, there are other fabrics available with similar properties which do not involve animal exploitation.
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All the ethical problems with wool arise from a more fundamental problem, which is the belief that animals are here to be exploited by humans. As philosopher Tom Regan [[Archive:Tom Regan Speech at the Royal Institute of Great Britain in 1989 | says]], they "have a life of their own that is of importance to them, apart from their utility to us. They are not only in the world, they are aware of it and also of what happens to them. And what happens to them matters to them."
  
 
== General Information  ==
 
== General Information  ==
  
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The headings are just a suggested starting point.
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=== History ===
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[[File:Château de Moidière - mouflon - 3.JPG|alt=Mouflon, the wild ancestors of sheep|thumb|Mouflon—the Wild Ancestors of Sheep]]
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Though sheep were first domesticated 9,000 to 11,000 years ago, the first evidence of sheep being selectively bred to grow more hair dates from the sixth millennium BCE.<ref name="history" /> Their wild ancestors, known as mouflon, had short, hairy coats.<ref name="wild sheep" /> Woolly fleeces likely did not appear until around 3,000 BCE. The first woolen garments are believed to date back to 1,500 BCE.<ref name="history">Ryder, M. L. “Merino History in Old Wool: The Use of Wool Remains in Ancient Skin and Cloth to Study the Origin and History of the Fine-Woolled Sheep That Became the Spanish Merino.” ''Textile History'' 18, no. 2 (January 1987): 117–32. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1179/004049687793700691</nowiki>.</ref>
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=== Numbers ===
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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), over one billion sheep are farmed worldwide.<ref>“World Food and Agriculture Statistical Pocketbook 2018.” FAO, 2018. http://www.fao.org/3/ca1796en/ca1796en.pdf.</ref> It is unclear how many are raised specifically for wool, particularly because many are used for both meat and wool.<ref>“About Sheep.” International Wool Textile Organisation. Accessed September 25, 2019. <nowiki>https://www.iwto.org/sheep</nowiki>.</ref>
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China is the country with the largest number of sheep, with a total amount of over 137 million. The countries most associated with wool production are Australia (94.9 million sheep), New Zealand (37.8 million), and the United Kingdom (36.7 million). The United States has a total amount of 6.5 million.<ref>“FAOSTAT.” Accessed September 17, 2019. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QA/visualize. These figures are an average from 1994 to 2017.</ref>
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Around 4,691 million pounds of wool were produced worldwide in 2015. Wool is graded based on the diameter of its fiber, with finer wool (fibers of 24.5 micrometers or under) used for clothing and coarser wool used for interior textiles like carpets and blankets. Since 2008, more wool has been used for interior textiles than for clothing.<ref>Poimena Analysis & Delta Consultants. “IWTO Market Information.” International Wool Textile Organisation, 2015.</ref> <!-- The full report isn't freely available online, but the relevant charts and information are reproduced on this page: https://www.iwto.org/wool-production. I converted the figure from kilograms into pounds. -->
  
 
== Harms to Sheep ==
 
== Harms to Sheep ==
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=== Shearing ===
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[[File:Shearing 8375 (32377314967).jpg|alt=Worker Shearing Sheep|thumb|400x400px|Worker Shearing Sheep]]
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When the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) says that to not shear sheep would be inhumane,<ref name="ASOAS">“There Is No Such Thing as Humane Wool When It Is Left on the Sheep: Why Sheep Shearing Is Absolutely Necessary for Sheep Welfare.” American Society of Animal Science. Accessed October 1, 2019. https://www.asas.org/taking-stock/blog-post/taking-stock/2014/07/14/there-is-no-such-thing-as-humane-wool-when-it-is-left-on-the-sheep-why-sheep-shearing-is-absolutely-necessary-for-sheep-welfare.</ref> they fail to point out that the only reason commercial sheep need to be sheared is because they have been bred to produce more wool than their forebears, as[[#Selective_Breeding | discussed below]]. A review of shearing videos<ref>“YouTube.” Accessed October 1, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sheep+shearing.</ref> shows that sheep are not willing volunteers and are, at a minimum, stressed by the handling.
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When handlers are caught abusing sheep during the shearing process, the industry predictably proclaims that such abuse is the exception and that sheep farmers care for their animals.<ref name="ASOAS" /> Yet such abuse is not unusual, as this article demonstrates below. As with other forms of animal exploitation, the pressures of profit and production take priority over the needs of the animals.
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Shearers are usually paid according to the number of sheep they shear rather than by the hour.<ref>“Rural Wage Guide 2018/2019.” NSW Farmers, 2018. http://cleaversshearing.com.au/forms/rates.pdf.</ref> This provides an incentive to work quickly, with little regard for animal welfare. For this reason, injuries are common. Skin is often cut or ripped off, as are tails, ears, and teats. When this happens, wounds are hastily sewn up with a needle and thread. The sheep are not given painkillers.<ref name="PETA investigation">“International Exposé: Sheep Killed, Punched, Stomped on, and Cut for Wool.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/australia-us-wool/.</ref>
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Though some mistreatment occurs due to carelessness, undercover investigations conducted by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have also found that some shearers are deliberately abusive. The footage, filmed across four continents and almost 100 facilities, shows shearers standing on sheep as well as punching and kicking them. Some sheep were recorded being hit in the face with electric clippers until they bled.<ref name="PETA investigation" /> In Australia and the US, sheep were thrown or kicked down chutes after being sheared. Cruelty was observed in 19 Australian shearing sheds and on 14 American ranches.<ref>“PETA’s SEVENTH Wool Exposé: Sheep Still Hit, Kicked, Cut, Thrown.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/australian-wool-industry-cruelty/.</ref>
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In the UK, shearers were filmed slamming the sheep’s heads into the floor, kicking them in the stomach, and squeezing their throats. The sheep were also thrown around and had their limbs and necks twisted. Sheep with mastitis and prolapsed uteruses were not given veterinary care.<ref name=":4">“Sheep in the UK Beaten, Stamped on, Cut, and Killed for Wool.” PETA Australia (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.peta.org.au/action/breaking-investigation-sheep-in-the-uk-beaten-stamped-on-cut-and-killed-for-wool/.</ref> Sheep are prey animals who find it very stressful to be pinned down by shearers;<ref>Hargreaves, A.L., and G.D. Hutson. “The Stress Response in Sheep during Routine Handling Procedures.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26, no. 1–2 (March 1990): 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(90)90089-V.</ref> the investigation found that several sheep died after being violently handled during shearing, likely from shock.<ref name=":4" />
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=== Selective Breeding ===
 
=== Selective Breeding ===
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Wild sheep grow exactly the right amount of wool to insulate them against the heat and the cold. This makes shearing unnecessary. However, domesticated sheep have been selectively bred to grow much more wool than necessary.
 
  
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Some breeds, such as merinos, have been bred to have wrinkled skin. This is because the increased surface area means there is more wool per animal. Carrying this much wool can lead to overheating in hot weather, and even death from heat exhaustion.
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Wild sheep grow exactly the right amount of hair and wool to insulate them against the heat and the cold. This makes shearing unnecessary. However, domesticated sheep have been selectively bred to grow much more wool than is needed.<ref name="wild sheep">Ryder, M.L. “THE INTERACTION BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT FLEECE TYPES IN SHEEP.” Anthropozoologica, no. 16 (1992): 131–40.</ref><!-- It should have been Anthropozoologica, I was missing a c! Here's the link: http://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/az1992n16a16.pdf -->
  
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Moisture and urine often gather in the folds of sheep skin. This attracts flies, which lay their eggs in the wrinkles. When the eggs hatch, the maggots begin to eat the sheep alive. This is known as “flystrike”.
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Some types of merino sheep have been bred to have heavily wrinkled skin. This is because some farmers believe that the increased surface area means more wool per animal.<ref>Bosman, V. “Studies on Merino Wool Production. Plainbodied and Developed Merino Sheep. 1.-The Standard of Production of a Group of Plainbodied Stud Ewes.” Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry 17 (October 1941): 37–43.</ref> Carrying this much wool can lead to heat exhaustion in hot weather.<ref>Marai, I.F.M., A.A. El-Darawany, A. Fadiel, and M.A.M. Abdel-Hafez. “Physiological Traits as Affected by Heat Stress in Sheep—A Review.” ''Small Ruminant Research'' 71, no. 1–3 (August 2007): 1–12. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.10.003</nowiki>.</ref>
  
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=== Standard Practices ===
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Moisture and urine often gather in the folds of merino skin. This attracts flies, which lay their eggs in the wrinkles. When the eggs hatch, the maggots begin to eat the sheep alive. This is known as ''fly-strike''.<ref>Greeff, Johan, and John Karlsson. “Merino Sheep Can Be Bred for Resistance to Breechstrike,” 2005. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.523.631&rep=rep1&type=pdf.</ref>
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Shortly after birth, lambs have holes punched in their ears so tags can be inserted, and their tails are usually docked. Male lambs are castrated, sometimes by having an incision made in the scrotum and the testicles pulled out. In other cases, castration is done by cutting off the blood supply with a rubber ring until the testicles drop off. If they fail to do so, farmers may cut them off with clippers. These procedures are all routinely carried out without the use of anesthetic.
 
  
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To prevent flystrike (described in the previous section), farmers may carry out a procedure called “mulesing”. This involves cutting away large chunks of skin from the backs of lambs’ legs and the area around their tails. Again, this is often done without anesthetic. The resulting scarred skin is smooth, and so less susceptible to flystrike. However, since the process leaves bloody wounds, flies often lay eggs there before the skin has time to heal.
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=== Mutilation ===
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Shortly after birth, lambs have holes punched in their ears so tags can be inserted, and their tails are usually docked.<ref name=":3">“Best Practice Marking of Lambs.” Text. Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/management-reproduction/best-practice-marking-lambs.</ref>
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Male lambs are castrated, sometimes by having an incision made in the scrotum and the testicles pulled out. In other cases, castration is done by cutting off the blood supply with a rubber ring until the testicles drop off.<ref>Melches, Susanne, Sibylle C. Mellema, Marcus G. Doherr, Beat Wechsler, and Adrian Steiner. “Castration of Lambs: A Welfare Comparison of Different Castration Techniques in Lambs over 10 Weeks of Age.” The Veterinary Journal 173, no. 3 (May 1, 2007): 554–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.01.006.</ref> The procedure is painful<ref>“Welfare Implications of Tail Docking and Castration in Sheep.”</ref>, and for younger animals, pain relief is generally not provided.<ref name=":3" />
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To prevent fly-strike (described in the previous section), farmers may carry out a procedure called ''mulesing''. This involves cutting away large chunks of skin from the backs of lambs’ legs and the area around their tails. Again, this is often done without anesthetic. The resulting scarred skin is smooth and so less susceptible to fly-strike.<ref>“Tail Docking and Mulesing | Meat & Livestock Australia.” Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/animal-health-welfare-and-biosecurity/husbandry/tail-docking-and-mulesing/</ref> However, the process leaves bloody wounds and is known to be painful.<ref>Fisher, Andrew D. “Addressing Pain Caused by Mulesing in Sheep.” ''Applied Animal Behaviour Science'', Special Issue: Pain in Farm Animals, 135, no. 3 (December 15, 2011): 232–40. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.10.019</nowiki>.</ref>
  
 
=== Abuse and Neglect ===
 
=== Abuse and Neglect ===
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Commercial sheep farms typically have very large flocks, often consisting of thousands of sheep. This makes it impossible for farmers to give sheep individual attention, meaning injuries and diseases often go untreated.
 
  
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Shearers are usually paid according to the number of sheep they shear rather than by the hour. This provides an incentive to work quickly, with little regard for animal welfare. For this reason, injuries are common. Skin is often cut or ripped off, as are tails, ears, and teats. When this happens, wounds are hastily sewn up with a needle and thread. No painkillers are given.
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Commercial sheep farms typically have very large flocks, often consisting of thousands of sheep.<ref>“The Western Australian Sheep Industry.” Government of Western Australia, 2016. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/WA%20Sheep%20Industry%20booklet%202017.pdf.</ref> This makes it difficult for farmers to give the sheep individual attention. Investigations have found rampant neglect, with injuries and conditions like fly-strike often going untreated.<ref>“Australian Sheep Neglected and Dying.” PETA, April 15, 2009. <nowiki>https://www.peta.org/blog/australian-sheep-neglected-dying/</nowiki>.</ref>
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As discussed below, the Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS) was created to address deficiencies in the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Yet investigators reported abuses to pregnant ewes living under the PWS standard.<ref name="PWS">“Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS).” Patagonia, 2016. https://www.patagonia.com/static/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-PatagoniaShared/default/dw9294a7c0/slots/RMA/PAT_2016_Wool_Standard_r5.pdf.</ref> In 2017, these investigators witnessed heavily pregnant ewes being whipped and forced through a chute on a PWS-certified farm in Utah. After being sheared, some ewes were forced out into the desert, where they faced extremely cold night temperatures with almost no wool to protect them. The ewes were left to give birth in these conditions.<ref name=":6">“Another Patagonia-Approved Wool Producer Exposed—Help Sheep Now.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 17, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/another-patagonia-approved-wool-producer-exposed/.</ref>
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=== Live Export and Slaughter ===
  
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Though some mistreatment occurs due to carelessness, undercover investigations have also found that some shearers are deliberately abusive. Footage shows shearers standing on sheep, as well as punching and kicking them. Some sheep have been recorded being hit in the face with electric clippers until they bleed.
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Sheep from Australia, which produces around a quarter of the wool used worldwide,<ref>“Department of Agriculture Wool.” Accessed September 17, 2019. http://www.agriculture.gov.au:80/ag-farm-food/meat-wool-dairy/wool.</ref> are typically sent to the Middle East or North Africa to be slaughtered. They are transported live on crowded ships where diseases like conjunctivitis and salmonellosis are rife. Journeys often last several days and sometimes weeks.<ref name=":7">Foster, Susan F., and Karen L. Overall. “The Welfare of Australian Livestock Transported by Sea.” The Veterinary Journal 200, no. 2 (May 2014): 205–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.03.016.</ref>
  
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=== Unsuitable Climate ===
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Urine and feces accumulate throughout the journey, and the ships are not cleaned until the end. This leads to a buildup of ammonia, which is corrosive and burns the sheep’s throats and eyes. Some sheep are lame and have no choice but to lie on the feces-covered floors, where they are trampled by other sheep.<ref name=":0">“SIGN HERE: End Sheep Ship Terror NOW.” Accessed September 16, 2019. https://secure.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/live-export-shipboard-cruelty/.</ref> The food on board the ships is different from what the sheep are used to, and many become ill or die of starvation as a result.<ref name=":7" />
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Wild sheep generally live in arid, mountainous areas, but domesticated sheep are often farmed in areas to which they are not suited. This can lead to health problems. For example, when sheep are farmed in damp lowland regions, they are prone to foot rot and other diseases.
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In the summer, the ships become extremely hot, leading many of the sheep to become heat stressed. Some quickly collapse and die, while others die slowly over a period of a few days. It was reported that 5,982 sheep died during export in 2018 alone.<ref name="live export">“Department of Agriculture Reports to Parliament.” Accessed September 13, 2019. http://www.agriculture.gov.au:80/export/controlled-goods/live-animals/live-animal-export-statistics/reports-to-parliament.</ref> Their bodies are often left decaying on the ships.<ref name=":0" />
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Though exporting pregnant sheep is illegal, investigations have found that it happens frequently. Ewes often end up giving birth on board the ships, and crew members are usually ordered to kill the lambs. They may also be trampled by adult sheep or become separated from their mothers in the crowded conditions.<ref name=":0" />
  
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Wild sheep are able to roam and find shelter from the elements. However, shelter is rarely provided for farmed sheep. This leaves them vulnerable to both the heat and the cold. As a result, many lambs die of exposure before the age of eight weeks.
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Many Middle Eastern countries have very little animal welfare legislation, meaning the surviving sheep are subjected to more mistreatment when they arrive. Investigators from Animals Australia discovered that when the ships dock, sheep are often thrown into the backs of trucks, trussed, and dragged roughly to slaughter. Some sheep are bought by untrained individuals who brutally slaughter them at home, while others go to unregulated slaughterhouses. All are slaughtered using Halal methods, meaning their throats are slit while they are still conscious.<ref>“Animals Australia Exposes Live Export Cruelty in Malaysia.” Accessed September 17, 2019. https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/festival-of-sacrifice-eid-al-adha-live-export-investigation-report-2017.php.</ref>
  
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=== Live Export and Slaughter ===
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Lambs slaughtered under Patagonia's Responsible Wool Standard (see below) fare no better. Footage from 2015 shows lambs in Argentina having their throats slit and then being skinned while still alive. Slaughter was carried out in full view of the other lambs who were going to be killed. These abuses were documented on a farm certified by the Responsible Wool Standard and supplying wool to outdoor clothing company Patagonia.<ref name=":5">“Patagonia’s ‘Sustainable Wool’ Supplier EXPOSED: Lambs Skinned Alive, Throats Slit, Tails Cut Off.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/ovis-lamb-slaughter-sheep-cruelty/.</ref>
  
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Sheep which are no longer needed are sent to slaughter. Sheep from Australia, which produces around a quarter of the wool used worldwide, are typically sent to the Middle East or North Africa. They are transported live on crowded ships where diseases like conjunctivitis and salmonellosis are rife. Journeys often last several days, and sometimes weeks.
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=== Unsuitable Climate ===
  
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Some sheep are lame and have no choice but to lie on the feces-covered floors, where they are trampled. The food on board the ships is different to what the sheep are used to, and many become ill or die of starvation as a result. 19,407 sheep died during export in 2012 alone.
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Wild sheep generally inhabit forests, grasslands, or rocky, mountainous areas.<ref>“The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en.</ref> However, domesticated sheep are often farmed in areas for which they are not suited. This can lead to health problems. For example, when sheep are farmed in damp lowland regions, they are prone to infections like foot rot<ref>Smith, Edward M., Olivia D. J. Green, Leonides A. Calvo-Bado, Luci A. Witcomb, Rosemary Grogono-Thomas, Claire L. Russell, Judith C. Brown, et al. “Dynamics and Impact of Footrot and Climate on Hoof Horn Length in 50 Ewes from One Farm over a Period of 10 Months.” The Veterinary Journal 201, no. 3 (September 1, 2014): 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.05.021.</ref> and scald, both of which can lead to lameness. In some flocks, over nine percent of sheep have foot rot and over 15 percent have scald.<ref>Winter, Agnes. “Lameness in Sheep 1. Diagnosis.” In Practice 26, no. 2 (February 1, 2004): 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.26.2.58.</ref> As a result, lameness is an extremely common problem. Extreme cases of foot rot can even lead to the horn of the hoof becoming detached, leaving just a stump. Wet weather also increases the prevalence of parasites,<ref>Taylor, M.A. “Emerging Parasitic Diseases of Sheep.” Veterinary Parasitology 189, no. 1 (September 2012): 2–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.027.</ref> foot and mouth disease,<ref>Hugh-Jones, M. E., and P. B. Wright. “Studies on the 1967–8 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Epidemic: The Relation of Weather to the Spread of Disease.” Journal of Hygiene 68, no. 2 (June 1970): 253–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022172400028722.</ref> and mastitis, a painful infection of the udder.<ref>Burriel, Angeliki Rothi. “News & Notes: Isolation of Pasteurella Haemolytica from Grass, Drinking Water, and Straw Bedding Used by Sheep.” Current Microbiology 35, no. 5 (November 1, 1997): 316–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002849900261.</ref>
  
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Many Middle Eastern countries have very little animal welfare legislation. When the ships dock, sheep are often thrown into the backs of trucks and dragged to slaughter by their legs or ears. Some sheep are bought by individuals who slaughter them at home, whilst others go to unregulated slaughterhouses. All are slaughtered by Halal methods, meaning their throats are slit while they are still conscious.
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Wild sheep are able to roam and find shelter from the elements. However, farmed sheep rarely have shelter provided. This leaves them vulnerable to both the heat and the cold. Consequently, many lambs die of exposure.<ref>Pollard, J. C. “Shelter for Lambing Sheep in New Zealand: A Review.” New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 49, no. 4 (October 2006): 395–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2006.9513730.</ref>
  
 
=== Wool as a By-Product ===
 
=== Wool as a By-Product ===
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27 percent of wool is from slaughtered sheep, often from lambs slaughtered for meat. (I will be adding more information here.)
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Wool is sometimes stripped from slaughtered sheep, often from lambs killed for meat. This wool is known as ''pulled wool''.<ref>Hermie, Albert M. “Prices of Apparel Wool.” Technical Bulletin. United States Department of Agriculture, October 1951. <nowiki>https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=UrDA4tOvrt8C&oi</nowiki>.</ref> Sometimes, sheep or lambs are killed and skinned shortly after being shorn. The hide is tanned with the wool still attached. This is known as ''shearling''. <ref>“Definition of SHEARLING.” Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shearling.</ref>
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As a result, purchasing wool or related products often helps to fund the meat industry.
  
 
== Humane Labels and Certifications ==
 
== Humane Labels and Certifications ==
  
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== Investigations ==
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=== Responsible Wool Standard ===
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The Responsible Wool Standard, or RWS, is a voluntary standard. This means companies and farmers can choose to be certified, but it is not required.<ref>“About RWS.” Responsible Wool Standard. Accessed September 13, 2019. https://responsiblewool.org/about-rws/.</ref>
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The inefficacy of this standard is best illuminated by the abuses discussed above that investigators found, including lambs being skinned while still alive.
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The RWS does prohibit some of the most painful and abusive standard practices, such as mulesing. It also places restrictions on many others, though these restrictions are often vague. For example, the RWS guidelines state that harmful practices such as tail docking “shall only be carried out if failure to do so would lead to welfare problems.” However, it is not specified which situations this would apply in.<ref name=":1">“Responsible Wool Standard.” 2016. Responsible Wool Standard. Textile Exchange. Accessed 13 Sept. 2019. https://responsiblewool.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RWS-standard.pdf.</ref>
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Castration is permitted in males who will be kept beyond puberty. Farmers are allowed to castrate lambs by using a rubber ring to cut off the blood supply to the testicles. This is considered to be an extremely painful method of castration. Pain relief is only mandatory when the castration is carried out surgically.<ref name=":1" />
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The RWS even allows the slaughter of sheep on farms, stating that “acceptable methods of slaughter for sheep include: a) firearm b) penetrating and non-penetrating captive bolt guns.” The slaughter of healthy animals is not prohibited.<ref name=":1" />
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RWS guidelines state that sheep must have adequate food and water available at all times. However, if this is not possible due to “exceptional circumstances,” then “arrangements shall be made to relocate, sell, or humanely dispose of the sheep to ensure their welfare is not adversely affected.”<ref name=":1" />
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Perhaps most worryingly, farmers are not required to install cameras, so there is no way of knowing whether the standards are being adhered to. Though unannounced inspections are sometimes carried out,<ref>“Certification.” Responsible Wool Standard (blog). Accessed September 25, 2019. https://responsiblewool.org/certification/.</ref> it is unlikely that this is enough to induce workers to comply at all times. Undercover investigations carried out on RWS-certified farms support this.<ref name=":5" />
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=== Patagonia Wool Standard ===
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In response to PETA investigations revealing cruelty in its supply chain, clothing company Patagonia created its own stricter version of the RWS. The Patagonia Wool Standard includes guidelines on transportation and “compassionate handling” of sheep, as well as avoiding injuries during shearing. It requires audits at both shearing and lambing times.<ref name="PWS">“Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS).” Patagonia, 2016. https://www.patagonia.com/static/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-PatagoniaShared/default/dw9294a7c0/slots/RMA/PAT_2016_Wool_Standard_r5.pdf.</ref>
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Though on paper it is the strictest wool certification in the world, a 2017 PETA investigation uncovered cruelty at a PWS-certified farm,<ref name=":6" /> showing that the guidelines were not being adhered to. The investigations, which are discussed above, show the result of this lack of enforcement—pregnant ewes being whipped and then being forced to live in and give birth in extremely cold temperatures after shearing, having no wool to protect them.<ref name=":6">“Another Patagonia-Approved Wool Producer Exposed—Help Sheep Now.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 17, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/another-patagonia-approved-wool-producer-exposed/.</ref>
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=== ZQ ===
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ZQ is a standard created by the New Zealand Merino Company. It prohibits mulesing and live exports and requires farmers to provide sheep with the “five freedoms.” These state that sheep should be free from thirst, free to live naturally, free from discomfort, free from distress, and free from disease. They also specify that sheep should be free to “display normal patterns of behavior.”<ref name="zq">“ZQ Natural Fibre | FAQs.” Discover ZQ. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.discoverzq.com/faqs.</ref>
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However, farms only need to be audited once every three years to be ZQ certified. Unannounced inspections are not carried out,<ref name="zq" /> so there is no way of knowing whether farmers are complying with requirements the majority of the time.
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The New Zealand Merino Company describes itself as “an integrated sales, marketing, and innovation company…focused on transforming New Zealand’s Merino sheep industry.” Since the company profits from the sale of merino wool, there is a potential conflict of interest (though audits are carried out by a third party).<ref>“The New Zealand Merino Company | Investor Gateway” New Zealand Merino. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.nzmerino.co.nz/investor-gateway.</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== Certified Merino Growers ===
 +
The Certified Merino Growers certification was created by NewMerino, an independent organization that does not directly sell wool.<ref>“About NewMerino.” Newmerino.Com.Au (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://newmerino.com.au/about-newmerino/.</ref> However, the certification is weak, simply requiring farmers to register online and make a written commitment to adhere to the Five Freedoms (mentioned in the previous section). An audit is also required for full certification, but this can be completed at any time during the first 24 months after registration. Once the farm has been fully certified, no further checks are carried out.<ref>“Certified Merino Growers.” Newmerino.Com.Au (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://newmerino.com.au/certified-growers/.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Mulesing and dehorning are forbidden under the certification, but painful procedures such as tail docking, castration, and ear notching are permitted provided certain conditions are met.<ref>“Animal Welfare - Guidelines.” NewMerino. Accessed September 17, 2019. https://newmerino.com.au/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Guidelines_Animal-Welfare-18.5.pdf.</ref>
 +
 
 +
A code of conduct for shearing is provided but not enforced, with no unannounced inspections or requirement for cameras in shearing sheds.<ref>“Shearing Contractors Code of Conduct.” NewMerino, 2017. https://newmerino.com.au/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Shearing-Code-of-Conduct-ver-18.5.pdf.</ref>
  
 
== Sheep Sentience and Cognition ==
 
== Sheep Sentience and Cognition ==
−
Studies have shown that sheep can recognize the faces of up to 50 other sheep, as well as human faces. They can remember faces for as long as two years, using a similar neural mechanism to humans. In one study, sheep responded emotionally when shown photographs of absent individuals (both sheep and human). The researchers concluded that this suggests sheep are capable of conscious thought.
+
Studies have shown that sheep can recognize the faces of up to 50 other sheep, as well as human faces. They can remember faces for as long as two years, using a neural mechanism similar to humans'. In one study, sheep responded emotionally when shown photographs of absent individuals (both sheep and human). The researchers concluded that this suggests sheep are capable of conscious thought.<ref name=":2">Kendrick, Keith M., Ana P. da Costa, Andrea E. Leigh, Michael R. Hinton, and Jon W. Peirce. “Sheep Don’t Forget a Face.” Nature 414, no. 6860 (November 2001): 165–66. https://doi.org/10.1038/35102669.</ref>
  
−
The sheep were even able to distinguish between different emotions, such as anger and happiness, on human faces. In another study, researchers said the facial recognition abilities of sheep were on par with those of humans and primates.
+
The sheep were even able to distinguish between different emotions, such as anger and happiness, on human faces.<ref name=":2" /> In another study, researchers said the facial recognition abilities of sheep were on par with those of humans and primates.<ref>Knolle, Franziska, Rita P. Goncalves, and A. Jennifer Morton. “Sheep Recognize Familiar and Unfamiliar Human Faces from Two-Dimensional Images.” Royal Society Open Science 4, no. 11 (n.d.): 171228. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171228.</ref>
  
−
Researchers in Australia have also discovered that when sheep are ill, they heal themselves by eating plants with medicinal effects. Ewes teach their lambs which plants to eat, and the knowledge may be passed down for several generations. The study showed that sheep kept returning to plants which had helped them before.
+
Researchers have also discovered that when sheep are ill, they heal themselves by eating plants with medicinal effects. Ewes teach their lambs which plants to eat, and the knowledge may be passed down for several generations. The study showed that sheep kept returning to plants that had helped them before.<ref>Villalba, J. J., and F. D. Provenza. “Self-Medication and Homeostatic Behaviour in Herbivores: Learning about the Benefits of Nature’s Pharmacy.” Animal 1, no. 9 (October 2007): 1360–70. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731107000134.</ref>
 +
 
 +
== Environmental Consequences of Wool Production ==
 +
 
 +
=== Land Degradation ===
 +
 
 +
Considerable land is cleared to graze sheep for wool production. This includes forested land. Clearing of land leads to soil erosion,<ref>Pimentel, D., J. Allen, A. Beers, L. Guinand, R. Linder, P. McLaughlin, B. Meer, et al. “World Agriculture and Soil Erosion.” BioScience 37, no. 4 (April 1987): 277–83. https://doi.org/10.2307/1310591.</ref> increased soil salinity, and decreased biodiversity.<ref>Gitay, Habiba, and Robert T. Watson. “Climate Change and Biodiversity.” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, April 2002. https://www.tnrf.org/files/E-INFO_IPCC_2002_Climate_Change_and_Biodiversity_0.pdf.</ref> In Patagonia, Argentina, sheep farming in the first half of the 20th century led to soil erosion and eventually desertification.<ref>Mazzonia, Elizabeth, and Mirian Vazquez. “Desertification in Patagonia.” In Developments in Earth Surface Processes, edited by Edgardo M. Latrubesse, 13:351–77. Natural Hazards and Human-Exacerbated Disasters in Latin America. Elsevier, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0928-2025(08)10017-7.</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== Global Warming ===
 +
 
 +
Additionally, sheep generate large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that traps 72 times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.<ref>Goodland, Robert, and Jeff Anhang. “Livestock and Climate Change.” World Watch, December 2019. Accessed February 8, 2020. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Livestock-and-climate-change%3A-what-if-the-key-in-Goodland-Anhang/6704c7a0777c82357704d82b9ae8007c1197cb07.</ref> In New Zealand, where sheep farming is a major industry, livestock is responsible for more than 90 percent of methane emissions.<ref>“NIWA Says Greenhouse Gas Methane Is on the Rise Again.” NIWA, December 22, 2009. https://www.niwa.co.nz/news/niwa-says-greenhouse-gas-methane-rise-again.</ref> Worldwide, the manure produced by sheep and other farm animals is also a major contributor to the greenhouse effect.<ref>Chadwick, Dave, Sven Sommer, Rachel Thorman, David Fangueiro, Laura Cardenas, Barbara Amon, and Tom Misselbrook. “Manure Management: Implications for Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Animal Feed Science and Technology 166–167 (June 2011): 514–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.04.036.</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== Pollution ===
 +
 
 +
In 2017, a report entitled "Pulse of the Fashion Industry" was published by Global Fashion Agenda and the Boston Consulting Group.<ref>Kerr, John, and John Landry. “PULSE  OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY.” Global Fashion Agenda, 2017. https://globalfashionagenda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Pulse-of-the-Fashion-Industry_2017.pdf.</ref> It concluded that overall, wool is one of the most environmentally damaging fabrics and that its production causes more pollution than artificial fibers like rayon, acrylic, and polyester. A 2010 study in the ''Journal of Cleaner Production'' found that the impact of wool production is greater than that of sheep meat or wheat production.<ref>Biswas, Wahidul K., John Graham, Kevin Kelly, and Michele B. John. “Global Warming Contributions from Wheat, Sheep Meat and Wool Production in Victoria, Australia – a Life Cycle Assessment.” Journal of Cleaner Production 18, no. 14 (September 2010): 1386–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.05.003.</ref> Additionally, sheep farming is a known cause of water pollution, in large part due to fecal contamination.<ref>Ufnar, J. A., S. Y. Wang, D. F. Ufnar, and R. D. Ellender. “Methanobrevibacter Ruminantium as an Indicator of Domesticated-Ruminant Fecal Pollution in Surface Waters.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73, no. 21 (November 1, 2007): 7118–21. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00911-07.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Sheep ''dip'' also presents an environmental hazard. This toxic chemical is used to kill parasites on sheep. In Scotland, a study of 795 facilities concluded that 40 percent ran the risk of causing pollution.<ref>Virtue, W.A., and J.W. Clayton. “Sheep Dip Chemicals and Water Pollution.” Science of The Total Environment 194–195 (February 1997): 207–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(96)05365-X.</ref> Neurological problems in farmers have also been linked to exposure to the organophosphates in sheep dip.<ref>Mackenzie Ross, Sarah Jane, Chris Ray Brewin, Helen Valerie Curran, Clement Eugene Furlong, Kelly Michelle Abraham-Smith, and Virginia Harrison. “Neuropsychological and Psychiatric Functioning in Sheep Farmers Exposed to Low Levels of Organophosphate Pesticides.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology 32, no. 4 (July 2010): 452–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2010.03.004.</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== Wildlife Extermination ===
 +
 
 +
Animals that are considered a threat to sheep are often killed by farmers. In Australia, where much of the world’s wool is produced, kangaroos are considered to be pests. As a result, landowners can apply for a permit that allows them to legally kill kangaroos on their own property.<ref>“Overview of Laws Governing Kangaroo Culling in Australia | Animal Legal & Historical Center.” Accessed September 15, 2019. https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-laws-governing-kangaroo-culling-australia.</ref> The government has even issued guidelines on the best way to kill a joey if his or her mother has been shot. They state that the joey should be killed with a “blow sufficient to crush the skull and destroy the brain”—or stunning and decapitation.<ref>“National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes.” Australian Government, November 7, 2008. https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/8ae26c87-fb7c-4ddc-b5df-02039cf1483e/files/code-conduct-commercial.pdf.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Thousands of coyotes are also killed each year in the US for eating livestock, including sheep.<ref>“Agriculture Department Killed 1.3 Million Native Animals in 2017.” Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/wildlife-services-04-23-2018.php.</ref>
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
  
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== Footnotes ==
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== Meta ==
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<references />
 
  
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== Meta ==
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This article was originally authored by [[User:Bethany.Chester | Bethany Chester]] with contributions by [[User: Greg.Fuller | Greg Fuller]]. It was copyedited by [[User:Isaac.Nickerson | Isaac Nickerson]]. The contents may have been edited since that time by others.
  
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This article was originally authored by Bethany Chester. The contents may have been edited since that time by others.
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| meta-description = In this article we explore the ethical issues surrounding wool production and provide some general information.
 
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Latest revision as of 05:29, 8 February 2020

Introduction

In this article, we provide some general information about wool and explore the ethical issues surrounding its production. We reveal that wool is not as innocuous as most believe it to be and that sheep suffer abuses, sometimes extreme, in the process of wool production.

We also expose the reality behind several wool certification programs, including the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), the Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS), Certified Merino Growers, and ZQ. In addition, we discuss the environmental destruction caused by the wool industry.

This article describes how wool cannot be considered vegan because it involves the exploitation of and harm of sheep for something we do not need to survive. Furthermore, there are other fabrics available with similar properties which do not involve animal exploitation.

All the ethical problems with wool arise from a more fundamental problem, which is the belief that animals are here to be exploited by humans. As philosopher Tom Regan says, they "have a life of their own that is of importance to them, apart from their utility to us. They are not only in the world, they are aware of it and also of what happens to them. And what happens to them matters to them."

General Information

History

Mouflon, the wild ancestors of sheep
Mouflon—the Wild Ancestors of Sheep

Though sheep were first domesticated 9,000 to 11,000 years ago, the first evidence of sheep being selectively bred to grow more hair dates from the sixth millennium BCE.[1] Their wild ancestors, known as mouflon, had short, hairy coats.[2] Woolly fleeces likely did not appear until around 3,000 BCE. The first woolen garments are believed to date back to 1,500 BCE.[1]

Numbers

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), over one billion sheep are farmed worldwide.[3] It is unclear how many are raised specifically for wool, particularly because many are used for both meat and wool.[4]

China is the country with the largest number of sheep, with a total amount of over 137 million. The countries most associated with wool production are Australia (94.9 million sheep), New Zealand (37.8 million), and the United Kingdom (36.7 million). The United States has a total amount of 6.5 million.[5]

Around 4,691 million pounds of wool were produced worldwide in 2015. Wool is graded based on the diameter of its fiber, with finer wool (fibers of 24.5 micrometers or under) used for clothing and coarser wool used for interior textiles like carpets and blankets. Since 2008, more wool has been used for interior textiles than for clothing.[6]

Harms to Sheep

Shearing

Worker Shearing Sheep
Worker Shearing Sheep

When the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) says that to not shear sheep would be inhumane,[7] they fail to point out that the only reason commercial sheep need to be sheared is because they have been bred to produce more wool than their forebears, as discussed below. A review of shearing videos[8] shows that sheep are not willing volunteers and are, at a minimum, stressed by the handling.

When handlers are caught abusing sheep during the shearing process, the industry predictably proclaims that such abuse is the exception and that sheep farmers care for their animals.[7] Yet such abuse is not unusual, as this article demonstrates below. As with other forms of animal exploitation, the pressures of profit and production take priority over the needs of the animals.

Shearers are usually paid according to the number of sheep they shear rather than by the hour.[9] This provides an incentive to work quickly, with little regard for animal welfare. For this reason, injuries are common. Skin is often cut or ripped off, as are tails, ears, and teats. When this happens, wounds are hastily sewn up with a needle and thread. The sheep are not given painkillers.[10]

Though some mistreatment occurs due to carelessness, undercover investigations conducted by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have also found that some shearers are deliberately abusive. The footage, filmed across four continents and almost 100 facilities, shows shearers standing on sheep as well as punching and kicking them. Some sheep were recorded being hit in the face with electric clippers until they bled.[10] In Australia and the US, sheep were thrown or kicked down chutes after being sheared. Cruelty was observed in 19 Australian shearing sheds and on 14 American ranches.[11]

In the UK, shearers were filmed slamming the sheep’s heads into the floor, kicking them in the stomach, and squeezing their throats. The sheep were also thrown around and had their limbs and necks twisted. Sheep with mastitis and prolapsed uteruses were not given veterinary care.[12] Sheep are prey animals who find it very stressful to be pinned down by shearers;[13] the investigation found that several sheep died after being violently handled during shearing, likely from shock.[12]

Selective Breeding

Wild sheep grow exactly the right amount of hair and wool to insulate them against the heat and the cold. This makes shearing unnecessary. However, domesticated sheep have been selectively bred to grow much more wool than is needed.[2]

Some types of merino sheep have been bred to have heavily wrinkled skin. This is because some farmers believe that the increased surface area means more wool per animal.[14] Carrying this much wool can lead to heat exhaustion in hot weather.[15]

Moisture and urine often gather in the folds of merino skin. This attracts flies, which lay their eggs in the wrinkles. When the eggs hatch, the maggots begin to eat the sheep alive. This is known as fly-strike.[16]

Mutilation

Shortly after birth, lambs have holes punched in their ears so tags can be inserted, and their tails are usually docked.[17]

Male lambs are castrated, sometimes by having an incision made in the scrotum and the testicles pulled out. In other cases, castration is done by cutting off the blood supply with a rubber ring until the testicles drop off.[18] The procedure is painful[19], and for younger animals, pain relief is generally not provided.[17]

To prevent fly-strike (described in the previous section), farmers may carry out a procedure called mulesing. This involves cutting away large chunks of skin from the backs of lambs’ legs and the area around their tails. Again, this is often done without anesthetic. The resulting scarred skin is smooth and so less susceptible to fly-strike.[20] However, the process leaves bloody wounds and is known to be painful.[21]

Abuse and Neglect

Commercial sheep farms typically have very large flocks, often consisting of thousands of sheep.[22] This makes it difficult for farmers to give the sheep individual attention. Investigations have found rampant neglect, with injuries and conditions like fly-strike often going untreated.[23]

As discussed below, the Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS) was created to address deficiencies in the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Yet investigators reported abuses to pregnant ewes living under the PWS standard.[24] In 2017, these investigators witnessed heavily pregnant ewes being whipped and forced through a chute on a PWS-certified farm in Utah. After being sheared, some ewes were forced out into the desert, where they faced extremely cold night temperatures with almost no wool to protect them. The ewes were left to give birth in these conditions.[25]

Live Export and Slaughter

Sheep from Australia, which produces around a quarter of the wool used worldwide,[26] are typically sent to the Middle East or North Africa to be slaughtered. They are transported live on crowded ships where diseases like conjunctivitis and salmonellosis are rife. Journeys often last several days and sometimes weeks.[27]

Urine and feces accumulate throughout the journey, and the ships are not cleaned until the end. This leads to a buildup of ammonia, which is corrosive and burns the sheep’s throats and eyes. Some sheep are lame and have no choice but to lie on the feces-covered floors, where they are trampled by other sheep.[28] The food on board the ships is different from what the sheep are used to, and many become ill or die of starvation as a result.[27]

In the summer, the ships become extremely hot, leading many of the sheep to become heat stressed. Some quickly collapse and die, while others die slowly over a period of a few days. It was reported that 5,982 sheep died during export in 2018 alone.[29] Their bodies are often left decaying on the ships.[28]

Though exporting pregnant sheep is illegal, investigations have found that it happens frequently. Ewes often end up giving birth on board the ships, and crew members are usually ordered to kill the lambs. They may also be trampled by adult sheep or become separated from their mothers in the crowded conditions.[28]

Many Middle Eastern countries have very little animal welfare legislation, meaning the surviving sheep are subjected to more mistreatment when they arrive. Investigators from Animals Australia discovered that when the ships dock, sheep are often thrown into the backs of trucks, trussed, and dragged roughly to slaughter. Some sheep are bought by untrained individuals who brutally slaughter them at home, while others go to unregulated slaughterhouses. All are slaughtered using Halal methods, meaning their throats are slit while they are still conscious.[30]

Lambs slaughtered under Patagonia's Responsible Wool Standard (see below) fare no better. Footage from 2015 shows lambs in Argentina having their throats slit and then being skinned while still alive. Slaughter was carried out in full view of the other lambs who were going to be killed. These abuses were documented on a farm certified by the Responsible Wool Standard and supplying wool to outdoor clothing company Patagonia.[31]

Unsuitable Climate

Wild sheep generally inhabit forests, grasslands, or rocky, mountainous areas.[32] However, domesticated sheep are often farmed in areas for which they are not suited. This can lead to health problems. For example, when sheep are farmed in damp lowland regions, they are prone to infections like foot rot[33] and scald, both of which can lead to lameness. In some flocks, over nine percent of sheep have foot rot and over 15 percent have scald.[34] As a result, lameness is an extremely common problem. Extreme cases of foot rot can even lead to the horn of the hoof becoming detached, leaving just a stump. Wet weather also increases the prevalence of parasites,[35] foot and mouth disease,[36] and mastitis, a painful infection of the udder.[37]

Wild sheep are able to roam and find shelter from the elements. However, farmed sheep rarely have shelter provided. This leaves them vulnerable to both the heat and the cold. Consequently, many lambs die of exposure.[38]

Wool as a By-Product

Wool is sometimes stripped from slaughtered sheep, often from lambs killed for meat. This wool is known as pulled wool.[39] Sometimes, sheep or lambs are killed and skinned shortly after being shorn. The hide is tanned with the wool still attached. This is known as shearling. [40]

As a result, purchasing wool or related products often helps to fund the meat industry.

Humane Labels and Certifications

Responsible Wool Standard

The Responsible Wool Standard, or RWS, is a voluntary standard. This means companies and farmers can choose to be certified, but it is not required.[41]

The inefficacy of this standard is best illuminated by the abuses discussed above that investigators found, including lambs being skinned while still alive.

The RWS does prohibit some of the most painful and abusive standard practices, such as mulesing. It also places restrictions on many others, though these restrictions are often vague. For example, the RWS guidelines state that harmful practices such as tail docking “shall only be carried out if failure to do so would lead to welfare problems.” However, it is not specified which situations this would apply in.[42]

Castration is permitted in males who will be kept beyond puberty. Farmers are allowed to castrate lambs by using a rubber ring to cut off the blood supply to the testicles. This is considered to be an extremely painful method of castration. Pain relief is only mandatory when the castration is carried out surgically.[42]

The RWS even allows the slaughter of sheep on farms, stating that “acceptable methods of slaughter for sheep include: a) firearm b) penetrating and non-penetrating captive bolt guns.” The slaughter of healthy animals is not prohibited.[42]

RWS guidelines state that sheep must have adequate food and water available at all times. However, if this is not possible due to “exceptional circumstances,” then “arrangements shall be made to relocate, sell, or humanely dispose of the sheep to ensure their welfare is not adversely affected.”[42]

Perhaps most worryingly, farmers are not required to install cameras, so there is no way of knowing whether the standards are being adhered to. Though unannounced inspections are sometimes carried out,[43] it is unlikely that this is enough to induce workers to comply at all times. Undercover investigations carried out on RWS-certified farms support this.[31]

Patagonia Wool Standard

In response to PETA investigations revealing cruelty in its supply chain, clothing company Patagonia created its own stricter version of the RWS. The Patagonia Wool Standard includes guidelines on transportation and “compassionate handling” of sheep, as well as avoiding injuries during shearing. It requires audits at both shearing and lambing times.[24]

Though on paper it is the strictest wool certification in the world, a 2017 PETA investigation uncovered cruelty at a PWS-certified farm,[25] showing that the guidelines were not being adhered to. The investigations, which are discussed above, show the result of this lack of enforcement—pregnant ewes being whipped and then being forced to live in and give birth in extremely cold temperatures after shearing, having no wool to protect them.[25]

ZQ

ZQ is a standard created by the New Zealand Merino Company. It prohibits mulesing and live exports and requires farmers to provide sheep with the “five freedoms.” These state that sheep should be free from thirst, free to live naturally, free from discomfort, free from distress, and free from disease. They also specify that sheep should be free to “display normal patterns of behavior.”[44]

However, farms only need to be audited once every three years to be ZQ certified. Unannounced inspections are not carried out,[44] so there is no way of knowing whether farmers are complying with requirements the majority of the time.

The New Zealand Merino Company describes itself as “an integrated sales, marketing, and innovation company…focused on transforming New Zealand’s Merino sheep industry.” Since the company profits from the sale of merino wool, there is a potential conflict of interest (though audits are carried out by a third party).[45]

Certified Merino Growers

The Certified Merino Growers certification was created by NewMerino, an independent organization that does not directly sell wool.[46] However, the certification is weak, simply requiring farmers to register online and make a written commitment to adhere to the Five Freedoms (mentioned in the previous section). An audit is also required for full certification, but this can be completed at any time during the first 24 months after registration. Once the farm has been fully certified, no further checks are carried out.[47]

Mulesing and dehorning are forbidden under the certification, but painful procedures such as tail docking, castration, and ear notching are permitted provided certain conditions are met.[48]

A code of conduct for shearing is provided but not enforced, with no unannounced inspections or requirement for cameras in shearing sheds.[49]

Sheep Sentience and Cognition

Studies have shown that sheep can recognize the faces of up to 50 other sheep, as well as human faces. They can remember faces for as long as two years, using a neural mechanism similar to humans'. In one study, sheep responded emotionally when shown photographs of absent individuals (both sheep and human). The researchers concluded that this suggests sheep are capable of conscious thought.[50]

The sheep were even able to distinguish between different emotions, such as anger and happiness, on human faces.[50] In another study, researchers said the facial recognition abilities of sheep were on par with those of humans and primates.[51]

Researchers have also discovered that when sheep are ill, they heal themselves by eating plants with medicinal effects. Ewes teach their lambs which plants to eat, and the knowledge may be passed down for several generations. The study showed that sheep kept returning to plants that had helped them before.[52]

Environmental Consequences of Wool Production

Land Degradation

Considerable land is cleared to graze sheep for wool production. This includes forested land. Clearing of land leads to soil erosion,[53] increased soil salinity, and decreased biodiversity.[54] In Patagonia, Argentina, sheep farming in the first half of the 20th century led to soil erosion and eventually desertification.[55]

Global Warming

Additionally, sheep generate large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that traps 72 times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.[56] In New Zealand, where sheep farming is a major industry, livestock is responsible for more than 90 percent of methane emissions.[57] Worldwide, the manure produced by sheep and other farm animals is also a major contributor to the greenhouse effect.[58]

Pollution

In 2017, a report entitled "Pulse of the Fashion Industry" was published by Global Fashion Agenda and the Boston Consulting Group.[59] It concluded that overall, wool is one of the most environmentally damaging fabrics and that its production causes more pollution than artificial fibers like rayon, acrylic, and polyester. A 2010 study in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that the impact of wool production is greater than that of sheep meat or wheat production.[60] Additionally, sheep farming is a known cause of water pollution, in large part due to fecal contamination.[61]

Sheep dip also presents an environmental hazard. This toxic chemical is used to kill parasites on sheep. In Scotland, a study of 795 facilities concluded that 40 percent ran the risk of causing pollution.[62] Neurological problems in farmers have also been linked to exposure to the organophosphates in sheep dip.[63]

Wildlife Extermination

Animals that are considered a threat to sheep are often killed by farmers. In Australia, where much of the world’s wool is produced, kangaroos are considered to be pests. As a result, landowners can apply for a permit that allows them to legally kill kangaroos on their own property.[64] The government has even issued guidelines on the best way to kill a joey if his or her mother has been shot. They state that the joey should be killed with a “blow sufficient to crush the skull and destroy the brain”—or stunning and decapitation.[65]

Thousands of coyotes are also killed each year in the US for eating livestock, including sheep.[66]

See Also

Meta

This article was originally authored by Bethany Chester with contributions by Greg Fuller. It was copyedited by Isaac Nickerson. The contents may have been edited since that time by others.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ryder, M. L. “Merino History in Old Wool: The Use of Wool Remains in Ancient Skin and Cloth to Study the Origin and History of the Fine-Woolled Sheep That Became the Spanish Merino.” Textile History 18, no. 2 (January 1987): 117–32. https://doi.org/10.1179/004049687793700691.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ryder, M.L. “THE INTERACTION BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT FLEECE TYPES IN SHEEP.” Anthropozoologica, no. 16 (1992): 131–40.
  3. ↑ “World Food and Agriculture Statistical Pocketbook 2018.” FAO, 2018. http://www.fao.org/3/ca1796en/ca1796en.pdf.
  4. ↑ “About Sheep.” International Wool Textile Organisation. Accessed September 25, 2019. https://www.iwto.org/sheep.
  5. ↑ “FAOSTAT.” Accessed September 17, 2019. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QA/visualize. These figures are an average from 1994 to 2017.
  6. ↑ Poimena Analysis & Delta Consultants. “IWTO Market Information.” International Wool Textile Organisation, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 “There Is No Such Thing as Humane Wool When It Is Left on the Sheep: Why Sheep Shearing Is Absolutely Necessary for Sheep Welfare.” American Society of Animal Science. Accessed October 1, 2019. https://www.asas.org/taking-stock/blog-post/taking-stock/2014/07/14/there-is-no-such-thing-as-humane-wool-when-it-is-left-on-the-sheep-why-sheep-shearing-is-absolutely-necessary-for-sheep-welfare.
  8. ↑ “YouTube.” Accessed October 1, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sheep+shearing.
  9. ↑ “Rural Wage Guide 2018/2019.” NSW Farmers, 2018. http://cleaversshearing.com.au/forms/rates.pdf.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 “International Exposé: Sheep Killed, Punched, Stomped on, and Cut for Wool.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/australia-us-wool/.
  11. ↑ “PETA’s SEVENTH Wool Exposé: Sheep Still Hit, Kicked, Cut, Thrown.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/australian-wool-industry-cruelty/.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 “Sheep in the UK Beaten, Stamped on, Cut, and Killed for Wool.” PETA Australia (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.peta.org.au/action/breaking-investigation-sheep-in-the-uk-beaten-stamped-on-cut-and-killed-for-wool/.
  13. ↑ Hargreaves, A.L., and G.D. Hutson. “The Stress Response in Sheep during Routine Handling Procedures.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26, no. 1–2 (March 1990): 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(90)90089-V.
  14. ↑ Bosman, V. “Studies on Merino Wool Production. Plainbodied and Developed Merino Sheep. 1.-The Standard of Production of a Group of Plainbodied Stud Ewes.” Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry 17 (October 1941): 37–43.
  15. ↑ Marai, I.F.M., A.A. El-Darawany, A. Fadiel, and M.A.M. Abdel-Hafez. “Physiological Traits as Affected by Heat Stress in Sheep—A Review.” Small Ruminant Research 71, no. 1–3 (August 2007): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.10.003.
  16. ↑ Greeff, Johan, and John Karlsson. “Merino Sheep Can Be Bred for Resistance to Breechstrike,” 2005. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.523.631&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 “Best Practice Marking of Lambs.” Text. Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/management-reproduction/best-practice-marking-lambs.
  18. ↑ Melches, Susanne, Sibylle C. Mellema, Marcus G. Doherr, Beat Wechsler, and Adrian Steiner. “Castration of Lambs: A Welfare Comparison of Different Castration Techniques in Lambs over 10 Weeks of Age.” The Veterinary Journal 173, no. 3 (May 1, 2007): 554–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.01.006.
  19. ↑ “Welfare Implications of Tail Docking and Castration in Sheep.”
  20. ↑ “Tail Docking and Mulesing | Meat & Livestock Australia.” Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/animal-health-welfare-and-biosecurity/husbandry/tail-docking-and-mulesing/
  21. ↑ Fisher, Andrew D. “Addressing Pain Caused by Mulesing in Sheep.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Special Issue: Pain in Farm Animals, 135, no. 3 (December 15, 2011): 232–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.10.019.
  22. ↑ “The Western Australian Sheep Industry.” Government of Western Australia, 2016. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/WA%20Sheep%20Industry%20booklet%202017.pdf.
  23. ↑ “Australian Sheep Neglected and Dying.” PETA, April 15, 2009. https://www.peta.org/blog/australian-sheep-neglected-dying/.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 “Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS).” Patagonia, 2016. https://www.patagonia.com/static/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-PatagoniaShared/default/dw9294a7c0/slots/RMA/PAT_2016_Wool_Standard_r5.pdf.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 “Another Patagonia-Approved Wool Producer Exposed—Help Sheep Now.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 17, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/another-patagonia-approved-wool-producer-exposed/.
  26. ↑ “Department of Agriculture Wool.” Accessed September 17, 2019. http://www.agriculture.gov.au:80/ag-farm-food/meat-wool-dairy/wool.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Foster, Susan F., and Karen L. Overall. “The Welfare of Australian Livestock Transported by Sea.” The Veterinary Journal 200, no. 2 (May 2014): 205–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.03.016.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 “SIGN HERE: End Sheep Ship Terror NOW.” Accessed September 16, 2019. https://secure.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/live-export-shipboard-cruelty/.
  29. ↑ “Department of Agriculture Reports to Parliament.” Accessed September 13, 2019. http://www.agriculture.gov.au:80/export/controlled-goods/live-animals/live-animal-export-statistics/reports-to-parliament.
  30. ↑ “Animals Australia Exposes Live Export Cruelty in Malaysia.” Accessed September 17, 2019. https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/festival-of-sacrifice-eid-al-adha-live-export-investigation-report-2017.php.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 “Patagonia’s ‘Sustainable Wool’ Supplier EXPOSED: Lambs Skinned Alive, Throats Slit, Tails Cut Off.” PETA Investigations (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://investigations.peta.org/ovis-lamb-slaughter-sheep-cruelty/.
  32. ↑ “The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en.
  33. ↑ Smith, Edward M., Olivia D. J. Green, Leonides A. Calvo-Bado, Luci A. Witcomb, Rosemary Grogono-Thomas, Claire L. Russell, Judith C. Brown, et al. “Dynamics and Impact of Footrot and Climate on Hoof Horn Length in 50 Ewes from One Farm over a Period of 10 Months.” The Veterinary Journal 201, no. 3 (September 1, 2014): 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.05.021.
  34. ↑ Winter, Agnes. “Lameness in Sheep 1. Diagnosis.” In Practice 26, no. 2 (February 1, 2004): 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.26.2.58.
  35. ↑ Taylor, M.A. “Emerging Parasitic Diseases of Sheep.” Veterinary Parasitology 189, no. 1 (September 2012): 2–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.027.
  36. ↑ Hugh-Jones, M. E., and P. B. Wright. “Studies on the 1967–8 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Epidemic: The Relation of Weather to the Spread of Disease.” Journal of Hygiene 68, no. 2 (June 1970): 253–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022172400028722.
  37. ↑ Burriel, Angeliki Rothi. “News & Notes: Isolation of Pasteurella Haemolytica from Grass, Drinking Water, and Straw Bedding Used by Sheep.” Current Microbiology 35, no. 5 (November 1, 1997): 316–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002849900261.
  38. ↑ Pollard, J. C. “Shelter for Lambing Sheep in New Zealand: A Review.” New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 49, no. 4 (October 2006): 395–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2006.9513730.
  39. ↑ Hermie, Albert M. “Prices of Apparel Wool.” Technical Bulletin. United States Department of Agriculture, October 1951. https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=UrDA4tOvrt8C&oi.
  40. ↑ “Definition of SHEARLING.” Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shearling.
  41. ↑ “About RWS.” Responsible Wool Standard. Accessed September 13, 2019. https://responsiblewool.org/about-rws/.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 “Responsible Wool Standard.” 2016. Responsible Wool Standard. Textile Exchange. Accessed 13 Sept. 2019. https://responsiblewool.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RWS-standard.pdf.
  43. ↑ “Certification.” Responsible Wool Standard (blog). Accessed September 25, 2019. https://responsiblewool.org/certification/.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 “ZQ Natural Fibre | FAQs.” Discover ZQ. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.discoverzq.com/faqs.
  45. ↑ “The New Zealand Merino Company | Investor Gateway” New Zealand Merino. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.nzmerino.co.nz/investor-gateway.
  46. ↑ “About NewMerino.” Newmerino.Com.Au (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://newmerino.com.au/about-newmerino/.
  47. ↑ “Certified Merino Growers.” Newmerino.Com.Au (blog). Accessed September 16, 2019. https://newmerino.com.au/certified-growers/.
  48. ↑ “Animal Welfare - Guidelines.” NewMerino. Accessed September 17, 2019. https://newmerino.com.au/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Guidelines_Animal-Welfare-18.5.pdf.
  49. ↑ “Shearing Contractors Code of Conduct.” NewMerino, 2017. https://newmerino.com.au/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Shearing-Code-of-Conduct-ver-18.5.pdf.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Kendrick, Keith M., Ana P. da Costa, Andrea E. Leigh, Michael R. Hinton, and Jon W. Peirce. “Sheep Don’t Forget a Face.” Nature 414, no. 6860 (November 2001): 165–66. https://doi.org/10.1038/35102669.
  51. ↑ Knolle, Franziska, Rita P. Goncalves, and A. Jennifer Morton. “Sheep Recognize Familiar and Unfamiliar Human Faces from Two-Dimensional Images.” Royal Society Open Science 4, no. 11 (n.d.): 171228. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171228.
  52. ↑ Villalba, J. J., and F. D. Provenza. “Self-Medication and Homeostatic Behaviour in Herbivores: Learning about the Benefits of Nature’s Pharmacy.” Animal 1, no. 9 (October 2007): 1360–70. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731107000134.
  53. ↑ Pimentel, D., J. Allen, A. Beers, L. Guinand, R. Linder, P. McLaughlin, B. Meer, et al. “World Agriculture and Soil Erosion.” BioScience 37, no. 4 (April 1987): 277–83. https://doi.org/10.2307/1310591.
  54. ↑ Gitay, Habiba, and Robert T. Watson. “Climate Change and Biodiversity.” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, April 2002. https://www.tnrf.org/files/E-INFO_IPCC_2002_Climate_Change_and_Biodiversity_0.pdf.
  55. ↑ Mazzonia, Elizabeth, and Mirian Vazquez. “Desertification in Patagonia.” In Developments in Earth Surface Processes, edited by Edgardo M. Latrubesse, 13:351–77. Natural Hazards and Human-Exacerbated Disasters in Latin America. Elsevier, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0928-2025(08)10017-7.
  56. ↑ Goodland, Robert, and Jeff Anhang. “Livestock and Climate Change.” World Watch, December 2019. Accessed February 8, 2020. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Livestock-and-climate-change%3A-what-if-the-key-in-Goodland-Anhang/6704c7a0777c82357704d82b9ae8007c1197cb07.
  57. ↑ “NIWA Says Greenhouse Gas Methane Is on the Rise Again.” NIWA, December 22, 2009. https://www.niwa.co.nz/news/niwa-says-greenhouse-gas-methane-rise-again.
  58. ↑ Chadwick, Dave, Sven Sommer, Rachel Thorman, David Fangueiro, Laura Cardenas, Barbara Amon, and Tom Misselbrook. “Manure Management: Implications for Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Animal Feed Science and Technology 166–167 (June 2011): 514–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.04.036.
  59. ↑ Kerr, John, and John Landry. “PULSE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY.” Global Fashion Agenda, 2017. https://globalfashionagenda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Pulse-of-the-Fashion-Industry_2017.pdf.
  60. ↑ Biswas, Wahidul K., John Graham, Kevin Kelly, and Michele B. John. “Global Warming Contributions from Wheat, Sheep Meat and Wool Production in Victoria, Australia – a Life Cycle Assessment.” Journal of Cleaner Production 18, no. 14 (September 2010): 1386–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.05.003.
  61. ↑ Ufnar, J. A., S. Y. Wang, D. F. Ufnar, and R. D. Ellender. “Methanobrevibacter Ruminantium as an Indicator of Domesticated-Ruminant Fecal Pollution in Surface Waters.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73, no. 21 (November 1, 2007): 7118–21. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00911-07.
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  63. ↑ Mackenzie Ross, Sarah Jane, Chris Ray Brewin, Helen Valerie Curran, Clement Eugene Furlong, Kelly Michelle Abraham-Smith, and Virginia Harrison. “Neuropsychological and Psychiatric Functioning in Sheep Farmers Exposed to Low Levels of Organophosphate Pesticides.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology 32, no. 4 (July 2010): 452–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2010.03.004.
  64. ↑ “Overview of Laws Governing Kangaroo Culling in Australia | Animal Legal & Historical Center.” Accessed September 15, 2019. https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-laws-governing-kangaroo-culling-australia.
  65. ↑ “National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes.” Australian Government, November 7, 2008. https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/8ae26c87-fb7c-4ddc-b5df-02039cf1483e/files/code-conduct-commercial.pdf.
  66. ↑ “Agriculture Department Killed 1.3 Million Native Animals in 2017.” Accessed September 13, 2019. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/wildlife-services-04-23-2018.php.
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