AWI project manager for blowfly control, Ian Evans, has been receiving expressions of interest (EOI) from growers and is looking to use all available clips this year.

"There is strong interest in using the clips, and growers need to finish lodging their EOIs as soon as possible," Mr Evans said.

"By necessity, it will be a case of first-in first-served – and the EOIs received are being held in order of receipt."

Despite criticism from animal rights group Peta, which has lobbied retailers against accepting wool from sheep which have been mulesed using clips, Mr Evans says the clips have "substantial animal welfare benefits".

"Retailers, when reminded of this information, appreciate the situation and most revise their position," he said.

"I advise producers not to become too concerned over isolated claims that the clips are not acceptable to a few retailers.

"The clips are in their final stages of Product Development and Testing, so production is currently geared to trial and demonstration levels.

"The commercial partner and AWI anticipate having commercially available product next year, and full-scale clip production will occur then."

Mr Evans says AWI will supply the clips at cost-plus-freight, estimated to be around 35 cents/clip.

This cost is expected to reduce in future with higher manufacturing volumes.

"Producers will be able to choose from a list of 35 experienced and trained operators from across Australia to apply the clips," he said.

"While some producers intend to use the clips across their lamb drop, many others want to see how the clips perform on their sheep in their production environment."

AWI will also be conducting more research this year on the bio-degradable clips and analysing different application techniques.

* To obtain an EOI form, interested producers should email Ian Evans at ian.evans@wool.com or visit www.wool.com.au/2010.