Dr Abell was forced to defend the wool organisation at AWI's The Road to 2010 meeting in Katanning, WA, as several hecklers continued to express anger at the decision and the lack of opportunity for the public to have their views aired and responded to by AWI.

Supporting the AWI position, Pastoralists and Graziers Association wool section president, Digby Stretch, said it was an unpalatable decision, but it was made with the best people at the time who had been elected by wool producers.

Various organisations have tried to distance themselves from the decision but remain publicly united in their commitment to support research and development of better mulesing alternatives.

Others, including several WA Stud Merino Breeders Association members, support the decision but have said they will continue to mules until an alternative is available, even after the deadline.

Dudinin Merino breeder, David Webster, said his family had made an economic decision to keep mulesing based on the lack of time and a cost-efficient alternative.

Those opposed to the mulesing phase out have rejected the AWI's suite of non-mulesing opportunities to soon be made commercially available, including breech clips, intradermal and breeding solutions.

Highbury wool producer Jean McGregor was vocal in her opposition.

She said there was no viable or cost effective alternative that further enhanced the welfare of sheep, other than mulesing.

"Pain relief is just a token measure," she said.

* Extract from a full report in Farm Weekly, WA, July 10 issue.