Part-time Dubbo TAFE teacher Ian Elkin is part of a new unofficial world record when he shore over 40 kilograms of wool on Thursday from a sheep who had remained undetected for seven years.
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'Chris' the sheep was found by a bushwalker near Mulligan's Flat earlier this week and rescued by a team of five from the local RSPCA.
Once weighed, the wool shorn off Chris was recorded at 40.45 kilograms, over 10 kg heavier than the existing world record.
Mr Elkin said he was contacted by the RSPCA to undergo the massive shearing operation.
"Until I saw it, I couldn't believe it," he said.
"A normal shear takes about three minutes, but this operation took 42 minutes."
Mr Elkin, who resides in Canberra, but travels to Dubbo to teach shearing courses at the agricultural Tafe campus throughout the year, said he had to take his time.
After being given a mild sedation by a veterinarian, it was time to relieve Chris of his seven year wool.
"We placed him on his back, then rolled him to one side to shear and then placed him on his other side to finish," he said.
"We kept him very comfy."
Mr Elkin said even before the shearing operation began, Chris the sheep was in good spirits.
"His body weight (when shorn) was 44kg, and when it rains wool carries more weight which can put incredible stress on the body, but he came out very well," he said.
Mr Elkin said despite the burden of a 40kg fleece and without the vital nutrients and vaccination, the only things found in Chris' wool were burrs and twigs.
"There was a lot of vegetable matter of the tip of the fleece, but we noticed his fleece was white underneath - the same as a normal sheep," he said.
"Overall he was in good health. It's quite remarkable."
Mr Elkin said the average sheep is shorn every 12 months and the Australian average fleece weight was 5kgs.
"How he remained undetected from people and predators is amazing," he said. "But he's doing well now and under great care."
Chris the sheep will remain in the care of the RSPCA until a home is found for him. Mr Elkin hopes the fleece becomes part of the National Museum of Canberra.
