"There is no legal obligation upon wool growers to cease mulesing in 2010 or any other period in time," Mr Tuckey said.

"I have no indication in the Parliament of any intention to legislate, which I and many other MP's would oppose.

"Commercially there has been no benefit demonstrated at auction and the processing industry which has been silent in the past on the issue is now pleading for more production.

"The time is right for woolgrowers who know best for their animals' welfare to get a new stencil marked 'mulesed and proud of it'."

There appeared no kinder or effective treatment of lambs other than mulesing to protect from flystrike, he said.

"While human medical profession promotes circumcision for mature and juvenile African males to protect them from AIDS, members of the same profession are pressured by animal activists to condemn a similar process applied to sheep to protect them from an equally debilitating condition," Mr Tuckey said.

"If a few high profile retailers whose sales, whilst welcome, wish to sell clothing manufactured from other countries' inferior wool, or revert to carbon emitting based synthetics, well so be it."