Animal Welfare

The quality of wool depends on the well-being of the animals that produce it. That is why the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare form the foundation of every farming partnership we enter, and why none of Devold's partners practice mulesing.

Devold only cooperates with farms that do not practice mulesing. All wool Devold uses comes from farms producing non-mulesed Merino wool, and each delivery is accompanied by certification confirming that the wool is mulesing free.Most of the world's wool is sold at auction, where buyers often have little visibility into its origin or how the sheep are kept.

For many years, Devold of Norway has invested significantly in a highly traceable value chain with strict animal welfare requirements. Devold sources only non-mulesed wool. Devold of Norway sources Merino wool from New Zealand, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands. The majority of Devold's Merino wool comes from New Zealand, where mulesing is banned by law.

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

• Freedom from hunger and thirst, by access to fresh water and a diet that maintains full health and vigour.
• Freedom from discomfort, by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
• Freedom from pain, injury or disease, by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
• Freedom to express normal behaviour, by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
• Freedom from fear and distress, by ensuring conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering.

Through Devold's division in New Zealand, our wool specialist Craig Smith makes regular visits to the farms we partner with. He works closely with producers, monitoring wool quality and animal welfare practices, and supporting compliance with Devold's sourcing standards. At Devold, animals are not viewed simply as raw materials in a supply chain, but as living beings whose welfare must be respected.