Somewhere along the way, sheep lost the ability to take care of their own coats, and humans are the reason why.

Wild sheep, like the mouflon of Europe and Asia (the likely ancestor of every domestic breed) and the bighorn and Dall sheep of North America, grow just enough wool for the season and then shed it naturally. Each year they molt, rubbing against rocks and tree branches to help the old coat come loose, leaving tufts of wool caught on the bark behind them.

Domestic sheep can't do this anymore. Centuries of selective breeding for thicker, heavier fleece bred out the natural shedding instinct along with it. Their wool simply keeps growing, year after year, with no built-in stopping point.

Left unshorn, that wool becomes a real problem. It traps heat, invites parasites, and in extreme cases grows heavy enough to cover a sheep's eyes or topple it over entirely, unable to stand back up. Shearing isn't a grooming choice for these animals. It's a basic requirement for staying alive and healthy.

A wild mouflon handles this on its own with nothing but a well-placed rock. A Merino needs a professional with electric clippers just to survive the summer.