Congi Station, Walcha, Australia

At the core of our garments is a 17.5 micron superfine merino wool. It is the product from our mulesing free sheep that roam free on the Congi Station. Located 30 km west of Walcha this farm has been raising livestock for over a century, and currently manages around 25,000 merino sheep. Now in their fourth generation, the Field family produces exceptionally high-quality wool using modern technology and sustainable, certified herd management processes.

At the Congi Station they understand that fiber quality is a result from the way sheep and land is managed. That is why they have adopted the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) so their flock can enjoy a healthy, safe life free from hunger, thirst and pain.

Better husbandry is the answer

The sheep on the Congi Station are not subjected to Mulesing, a procedure that involves the removal of a part of skin from the backside to prevent the infection that is caused by the flystrike. The Field family believes better husbandry is the answer. Sheep can be spared flystrike through more humane methods such as diet regulation non-toxic, spray washing and breeding types of Merino sheep that are better suited for the Australian climate.

Preventing flystrike is just one of the activities performed to maintain the health of the sheep and the land they graze on.

The sheep must always have access to clean water and adequate nutrition, suited to the animals’ age and needs. There is a herd rotation system in place that ensures that pastures are changed every 4 days allowing them to improve the land and favoring the replenishment of food and there are routine welfare inspections to monitor the flock for signs of diseases.

Although it seems like common sense, the reality is that these standards are needed to differentiate the good from the bad in a market where enough players are active that like to take short cuts when it comes to animal welfare.