An agricultural student in Victoria has been charged with finding a way to manage flystrike in sheep without mulesing.

Mulesing is the removal of skin from the breech of the sheep to deter flies but it has been condemned by animal rights groups.

As part of an RSPCA scholarship, Melbourne University student Matthew Bollen will look into chemical treatments, reducing fly numbers in paddocks and strict monitoring methods to avoid flystrike.

He says he wants to ensure his chosen industry will stay viable into the future.

"I think it's important that we stay one step ahead of the animal rights activists in America so our wool industry can keep exporting," he said.