Shaving goats versus sunburn

[Nancy_in_GA]

Our goats have a variety of coats. Some get cottony undercoats in winter and some do not. A couple have longer hair. I've always wanted to try shaving some of them because they look miserable in the summer here when it's hot.

Does it really help them or is it just for appearance?

I've always been afraid they would get sunburned, because even though they look hot they still lay out in the sun.

And what about Saanens? They seem to be the least heat tolerant but maybe the most prone to sunburn because they have lighter skin.

What do you think?

[mamahen]

I've shaved in the past to treat lice/mites. But this year we had temps in the high 90's in May (not normal) and my crew still has most of their undercoat.

I have pygmies, one white/carmel, one agouti, and one light brown carmel. I shaved the white one (oldest & least heat happy). Then my clippers died.

My hubby scalped her in 2 places, and those 2 places got a little sunburnt. All the rest of her is ok.

I use a #10 blade. They really do seem to like it.

[Cannon_Farms]

Get a #7 blade unless you are showing thats as close as you want to cut it. You can put sunscreen on them or theres a horse and pony spray ( i believe its called horse and pony) that has sunscreen in it as well as keeping bugs off as they will be more of a target for skeeters.
A #10 is for showing close and you do risk sunburn. #7 blade leaves the hair about as short as a dog from the groomers should be.
I had to do a few of mine this year too, this heat is horrid.

[Nancy_in_GA]

I see, so the key is just to make sure you don't get it too short. Maybe 3/4 inch long on the body?

Would human hair trimmers work just for a first try at this? We have 3 sets of those lying around which no one is using so I don't really care if they get ruined, only if the goat gets ruined.

I have a suspicion I won't want to do it ever again after the first try.

[coso]

It does help cool them a lot. I use SPF 70 on them for two or three days after that even on the white does they do fine. Shaved three white goats today.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

We had to use human hair clippers this year. We used a 1/4 inch spacer and shaved against the grain. For the udder, insides of back legs, and underbelly, we used the blade with no spacer.

If I had animal clippers, I would used a #5 for the body and a #40 for the udder area. Since I don't show, I don't need them to be clipped as short.