THE fake lamb at the centre of a campaign by animal rights activists to end sheep farming is back.

media_camera It’s back: US actor Joanna Krupa holds a fake lamb as part of a campaign against the wool industry.

A new campaign by animal rights group PETA has used images of US reality TV star Joanna Krupa holding the fake lamb.

The image of TheReal Housewives of Miami cast member, who stands naked, includes the slogan: “Wool: The Naked Truth. There’s nothing warm and cuddly about wool”.

Last year PETA was criticised by farm groups after it released an advertisement featuring Australian musician Jona Weinhofen holding what appeared to be a shorn lamb covered in blood and cuts with the words: “Here’s the rest of your wool coat”.

PETA claimed the advertisement represented “the realities of the Australian wool industry”.

It later admitted the sheep was fake.

In the new campaign, Ms Krupa and the fake lamb appear bruised and battered.

“The poor little sheep in my hand died because a wool farm producer sheared it to death, skinned it alive, beaten it, cut it open – it looks so real … that’s what they really go through,” Ms Krupa said during a video used to launch the campaign.

The advertisement has angered Victorian Farmers Federation vice president David Jochinke.

“Has she ever been in a shearing shed?” Mr Jochinke said.

“I’m sorry she has such an ill-informed opinion.”

Mr Jochinke said Ms Krupa was “more than welcome to come and visit my farm, my shearing shed, any day of the week” to see how Australian farms operated.

“I have never seen a lamb look like that,” he said.

PETA Australia’s spokeswoman Claire Fryer said the advertisement would be used in an international online and social media campaign.

“Already the video from the campaign has been viewed 148,000 times and shared almost 2,500 times on PETA US’ Facebook page alone,” Ms Fryer said.

“The Australian wool industry shouldn’t be worried about a prop but should worry about the welfare of sheep.”

Ms Fryer said a recent PETA investigation found 70 workers abusing sheep in 20 shearing sheds across three Australian states.

“You don’t need to visit a sheep farm to speak out against this cruelty,” she said.

Mr Jochinke also questioned PETA’s decision to use a naked person in the campaign.

“The message should stand on its own two feet – you shouldn’t have to rely on a naked body to sell the message” he said.