Most wool growers are saying that its decision to source wool from only non-mulesed sheep for its menswear line by the end of 2010 is impractical.

In the latest sign of a growing harmonious relationship with the international retail chain and the wool industry, a letter directed to the Western Australian farmer’s federation sought to assure its members that it remained committed to the industry.

The letter says M&S understands that a viable alternative to surgical mulesing was not available.

The retail store, which in May this year communicated that all of its wool sourced for its menswear business would come from non-mulesed sources by the end of 2010, has made its largest statement yet that it has the interest of Australian wool growers in mind.

A letter obtained by Rural Press from Marks and Spencer head of Technology Krishan Hundal to WA farmers says: "We appreciate that there is no single solution to replace surgical mulesing, and we remain fully committed to working with the Australian wool industry, with the long term view that breeding programs are introduced to produce bare breached sheep."

WAfarmers wool council president Kim Henderson, says the letter, received last week, was a “surprise” but a good result and should act as reassurance that the major wool retailer understood the predicament woolgrowers were faced with.

“It appears they have made a back flip (on supporting Australian wool growers),” Mr Henderson said.

The letter says: “We naturally want to work with our suppliers and partners to avoid any loss of consumer confidence."

It adds that it recognises an alternative to surgical mulesing could “take up to a decade or more to achieve, so in the interim, alternative approaches are necessary to improve the welfare of Australian sheep”

The letter concludes: “We are in regular dialogue with Australian Wool Innovation and with the British Retail Consortium on this."

The letter comes just weeks before Marks and Spencer is due to visit Australia and complete a national road tour to visit wool grower leaders and look at all alternatives including developments on genetics.