The new breed, called Exlana, lose their woolly coats automatically in spring.

Instead of spending precious time and money shearing their sheep, farmers simply wait for the light coats to ‘moult’ in the fields.

Breeder Peter Baber, 54, one of nine farmers developing the sheep, said: “We used to have normal, woolly sheep at the farm and had to spend hours shearing them in the spring.

“But the value of wool has reduced so much recently that it’s no longer economically viable to produce.

“Shearing has just become a necessity and, quite frankly, a nuisance.” Source