# Has human selection led to sheep wool that never stops growing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2015, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994 "2015-09-05T08:32:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994/21 "2015-09-08T18:40:57Z")

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> [@Nametag](#):
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> The poodle (“pudelhund”) is a water dog, and its coat keeps it warm. The poodle cut is French circus BS, and dog show people cannot be trusted.

I read somewhere the poodle cut was originally used for hunting in hot weather. It leaves the hair (protection) on the legs, tail, head and chest while letting the dog cool down.

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**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994/22 "2015-09-08T21:48:27Z")

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I expect the OP read a news story about [Merino need to be shorn at least once a year because their wool does not stop growing. If the coat is allowed to grow, it can cause heat stress, mobility issues, and blindness.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merino)

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**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994/23 "2015-09-09T13:03:29Z")

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Wiki, bless it, overstates the case.

Nothing dire happens to merinos if they aren’t shorn for 13, 14, 15 months or so. Yes, there are sound animal husbandry issues and cash flow considerations which is why annual shearing is usual practice. On a couple of the family properties we shear twice a year.

Also overgrown wool doesn’t cause permanent blindness. It can cause individuals to become “wool-blind” i.e. when the wool grows over the animal’s eyes. It’s a genetic trait. Some breeds, strains or individuals are much more prone than others.

However trim the fleece growing around the face, a process termed [wigging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crutching) and the animal goes on it’s way unimpeded.

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994/24 "2015-09-09T14:54:53Z")

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> [@penultima\_thule](#):
>
> …However trim the fleece growing around the face, a process termed [wigging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crutching) and the animal goes on it’s way unimpeded.

Did I miss it in the link? Now I can keep my crutching and mulesing straight in my head, but misses details, if any, on wigging.

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**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-human-selection-led-to-sheep-wool-that-never-stops-growing/729994/25 "2015-09-09T20:49:24Z")

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Pictures and some discussion at: [Will a Sheep’s Wool Grow Forever?](http://modernfarmer.com/2013/07/will-sheep/)

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