Merino ram Chris yielded a huge 40kg fleece – enough for 30 sweaters – when he was shorn after being rescued from the Australian wild.
The colossal coat – which was half Chris's bodyweight – dwarfed the previous record of 28.9kg set by Kiwi ram Big Ben last year.
Bushwalkers found poor Chris at death's door and miles from the nearest sheep farm, near a woodland sanctuary outside the Aussie capital of Canberra.
Urine from the fleece was burning his skin and the RSPCA who rescued him believe he could have died within weeks if left in the wild.
Champion sheep shearer Ian Elkins gave Chris a long, long overdue haircut – possibly the first of his life.
Mr Elkins said: "I don't reckon he's been shorn before and I reckon he'd be five or six years old."
Tammy Ven Dange, chief executive of Canberra RSPCA, said: "He's looking really good – he looks like a new man.
"For one thing he's only half the weight he used to be."
Chris – named after the prize sheep in Irish comedy Father Ted by the bushwalkers – had to be shorn under anaesthetic as he was scared for humans and the heavy fleece could have torn his skin as it fell away.
But he appeared to like his new look – and showed his appreciation to his new carers.
Ms Ven Dange said: "When we first brought him in yesterday he was really shy.
"He was shaking, he would move his head away from people and he could barely get up and walk.
"The drugs might be wearing off right now but he's actually coming to you and actually wants a pat."
Chris will be found a new home after vets give him the all-clear.
His record-breaking coat is too long and wild to be sold commercially – but it could end up in a museum.
Australian merinos are bred for wool and usually shorn every year, with fleeces averaging about 5kg.