The Australian wool industry has proposed to phase out mulesing, the practice of removing skin wrinkle on the breech area of sheep to reduce the risk of fly strike, by 2010.

While breeding sheep resistant to fly strike is considered the ultimate alternative, analgesics such as Trisulfen are considered a possible interim method to address market and community animal welfare concerns.

But research director of animal ethics at Sydney University Veterinary School, Dr Meredith Sheil, has also worked with a team from Sydney University to investigate the pain levels of eight groups of six to eight week old lambs as they were castrated and their tails docked.

The results showed that lambs treated with the analgesic Trisolfen recorded significantly lower pain stimuli responses to those that received a placebo gel or were untreated.

These results were consistent from one minute to four hours after the procedure took place.

"The research confirms this product is highly effective in alleviating pain associated with castration and tail docking in sheep and studies are underway to investigate similar applications in cattle and pigs," Dr Sheil said.

"A concerted research and development focus and funding commitment are needed to ensure affordable analgesic products are developed and supported through registration to become available commercially for all surgical procedures in livestock."

Dr Sheil says urgent research work is required to ensure alternative analgesics become registered and commercially available for use in livestock.

"There is growing pressure on livestock industries to find more humane ways of performing these procedures," she said.

"Low cost, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can be used with the current commercial analgesic to provide effective and long-lasting pain alleviation following mulesing.

"Studies are required to determine whether similar synergism occurs for castration and tail docking, and to deliver practical and affordable products for use on farm.

"This will place Australian farmers ahead of the pack and provide them with vital tools to face the animal welfare challenges in the years to come."