Why don't vegans use wool?

February 19, 2013 / Heena

I was following a plant-based lifestyle, or so I thought, for about 3 years before I found out the plight that sheep go through to provide us with wool.

The myth about wool

Contrary to popular belief, Sheep do not make 'extra' wool, which we need to help them remove. We're not doing them a favour.

They naturally produce SOME hair for themselves but they are given hormones and chemicals, which makes them produce an unmanageable amount of hair.

The process of sourcing wool

Part of this overgrowth causes their hind skin to wrinkle and get infected by insects. This results in the 'sheep keeper' incurring a loss. In order to prevent losing money, they cut off the sheep's hind skin.

This is called mulesing and is done without anaesthesia or painkillers.

What is the benefit of mulesing?

Why would they do this to their stock? The result in a scar free of wool, no faecal/urine stains and no skin wrinkles.

Do the sheep endure anything else?

Many have their tail cut off and the males are castrated at the same time. All without anaesthesia or painkillers.

Diet versus lifestyle

Those who made the lifestyle choice, will not use wool for the reasons described above. Other reasons are that living beings are: -

exploited
enslaved
trapped
violated
stolen from
hurt
tortured and
killed when they're of no use or too costly to keep

What do you think?

I find it really hard to look at these photos. If I can't stand looking at them, how can I wear the 'fruit' of this process? To feel better, to feel more aligned and to feel lighter; I have stopped using wool.