Goat Shearing Help Needed

[EmilyMArkansas]

I have four Pycazz goats. Three of them will have cashmere type fleece and one of them has a more angora type fleece except finer fiber. The goat with the more angora type fleece is just about to the point where he needs to be sheared. I haven't measured the fleece, but it looks to be 2-3 inches now and he is really hot with all of this 100+ weather here in Arkansas so I think it is time.

So I have never sheared a goat (or a sheep for that matter) and I need some recommendations.

First - What type of clippers will I find easy to use and durable? I prefer clippers that have the option of going cordless. Needs to be able to handle fine fiber without jamming.

Second - Are there any online references that I can read that will help me develop a method for shearing? Or does anyone have a good step by step description of how to do it?

I appreciate any recommendations any of you can give.

Emily

[6e]

Originally Posted by EmilyMArkansas

I have four Pycazz goats. Three of them will have cashmere type fleece and one of them has a more angora type fleece except finer fiber. The goat with the more angora type fleece is just about to the point where he needs to be sheared. I haven't measured the fleece, but it looks to be 2-3 inches now and he is really hot with all of this 100+ weather here in Arkansas so I think it is time.

So I have never sheared a goat (or a sheep for that matter) and I need some recommendations.

First - What type of clippers will I find easy to use and durable? I prefer clippers that have the option of going cordless. Needs to be able to handle fine fiber without jamming.

Second - Are there any online references that I can read that will help me develop a method for shearing? Or does anyone have a good step by step description of how to do it?

I appreciate any recommendations any of you can give.

Emily

We breed Angoras and we use Shear Master sheep shears with a goat comb on it. These are about the only clippers that will hold up to a bunch of goats being sheared and it's fairly quick and easy to use with a minimum of nicks.

I can't give you a reference guide, but I can tell you how our shearer does it. He shears them standing up, not laying down or on their rump like sheep. Goats really don't like to be sat up. LOL He turns the clippers on their sides and makes a cut from the base of their tail to their neck and then goes back to the tail and starts shearing. He's not real fast, but he's excellent at not getting second cuts in there. Too bad you don't live closer, he would probably teach you how to shear.

[jBlaze]

6e, I wish your shearer lived closer to me! lol.

I tried to shear our pygoras with the shearmaster and goat-comb blade, and it does not go well for me.
The clippers are so heavy I cannot "feel" the goat at the end of the clippers. I get lots of seconds, and have nicked the goat. I use the clippers when I have a matted fleece I just want to get off, but if I want to keep the fleece, I scissor it off. I make sure though that I can see the entire enge of my blade before cutting!

Good luck clipping your goaties EMA, that dark one looks BeaUtiful!.

[6e]

LOL

I keep telling him he could make money shearing. He actually started out grooming Schnauzers and I talked him into trying to shear my goats since we couldn't find a shearer and he's a wiz at it. LOL I knew he would be. He does a beautiful job with almost no second cuts.

[EmilyMArkansas]

You know what..., maybe I could get the dog groomer to give it a whirl. I know they would be better with clippers than I would be...

Everything is more fun when you have an accomplice anyway!