2006-11-16 19:18:47 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Dude, they do. I'm from New Zealand, we have 20 times as many sheep as people, so I know.
A little known fact is that there is only a certain number of sheep in the world, and that this number neither decreases or increases. If you see a lamb, it isn't a young sheep, but an old sheep that has been caught out in the rain, thus shrinking. When they dry out again, they enlarge.
This is why lamb meat is tastier... it's because it's more concentrated.
Logical when you think about it.
2006-11-16 19:49:55 · answer #1 · answered by Greta B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ha ! Funny question.
But your confusing cotton with Whool.
Sheep fur makes Whool - that doesn't shrink much (but, your right - it still shrinks) But yeah - how come cotton plants don't shrink when it rains?? They actually grow?
It's cause water doesn't make them shrink. When we wash our clothes they get soaked and then dried at high temperatures really fast. It's the drying that makes clothes shrink - not Water. If you wash your clothes and then don't put them in the dryer - just hang them, they won't shrink (maybe just a tiny bit). So that's why Sheep and cotton plants don't shrink in the rain.
2006-11-17 03:29:48 · answer #2 · answered by timmytude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cos the rain is too cold, things don't shrink on a cold wash. If the rain was above 40 degrees they'd be in trouble.
2006-11-17 03:26:28 · answer #3 · answered by catz**eyes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you know they don't? Have you ever seen a freshly shorn sheep? (Have you ever even tried to say freshly shorn sheep?) They are very tiny, and cute.
And rain is usually cold, so perhaps that would be the reason. As all sheep have tags on them that say wash in cold water only.
Peace.
2006-11-17 03:25:16 · answer #4 · answered by -Tequila17 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do - its just that the human eye contracts in humid conditions thus creating the illusion that the sheep have remained the same size.
Quite an incredible and little known wonder of nature!
2006-11-17 06:41:28 · answer #5 · answered by charlie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sheep and goats release Lanolin which is one of the most insouble oils.... Chloroform has to be used to extract it. Then it gets put in lotions and lubricants. Think about it next time your using hand lotion....putting on some sheeps sweat!!!!
2006-11-17 04:14:48 · answer #6 · answered by Stonerscientist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wool--when attached and in the live--growing state--is amply saturated with natural oils that shed water
In the harvested state-- the wool is a dead fiber-- no longer protected by the natural oil saturation-- and therefore attains the shrinkage quality that we all know and love !!!
2006-11-17 03:32:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's tied up with the same reason that you don't dissolve if you go out in the rain too !
2006-11-17 05:46:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you referring to the hair!?! Maybe cos the hair is already compact when it's dry and it won't make a difference when it rains?
2006-11-17 03:23:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nice one.... cause they rub themselves in baby oil at night which stops them shrinking
2006-11-17 03:42:59 · answer #10 · answered by 2 good 2 miss 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋