EXPERIMENTAL flystrike prevention treatment, Skintraction, has delivered results comparable to surgical mulesing for the first time following new trials on 2000 Merinos.
The promising work, by Cobbett Technologies, uses sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) - an active ingredient in varicose vein treatments for humans - to reduce wrinkle and increase the bare area around the breech and tail of sheep.
The chemical works by tightening the skin in the targeted breech area.
Sheep treated with the intradermal technology were on show at the National Merino Show and Sale at Dubbo, NSW, this week, alongside unmulesed and mulesed siblings.
"For five years we have known we have had the right chemical, but the main thing has been the development of the applicator and getting that chemical into the skin and that has taken up the last three to four years," said Peter St Vincent Welch, director of research at Cobbett Technologies.
"In the latest trials we have been trying to minimise the number of treatments while maximising the stretch and bare area."
Trial participant David McBurnie, has used Skintraction on 470 Merino lambs – described as medium sheep with plenty of skin - on the family's property at Balladoran near Gilgandra in northern NSW for the past two years.
Results from the test lambs showed that the chemical treated skin fell off at 35-50 days revealing new bare skin underneath comparitive to surgical mulesing.
"As far as the breech is concerned I would defy anyone to say this technology is not working," Mr McBurnie said.
"From last year I could see the application on the tail needed some refining and this has now happened with sheep treated this year."
When the lamb was treated, he said there was "no pain, no needles and no blood".
"Straight away the lambs walk away and are feeding."
According to Australian Wool Innovation (which is funding research into Skintraction), a CSIRO welfare assessment found the treatment involved "very little stress" for the animal due to its application and the formulation containing the antiseptic, benzol alchol.
The promising results have raised hopes of an early commercial release with approval from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) pending and release by tipped for the end of next year.
"There is no reason why it should not be approved, it is a common household chemical widely used in shampoos and toothpaste," Mr St Vincent Welch said.
Mr St Vincent Welch's team's study has involved more than 1000 fine and medium Merino lambs across regional NSW treated from two to 12 weeks, with results yet to determine a most effective age of application.
He said preliminary work costed Skintraction at $1 per sheep.
An Australian Wool Innovation spokesman said the results were encouraging, but "science can't be rushed".
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