shaving goats?

[Buffy in Dallas]

Ok, stupid newbie question.

Ive seen pictures on here where the goats look like they have been shaved and left with just a little tuft on the end of their tail. Is this a "show goat" thing or is there another reason for it?

[BarbadosSheep]

It's mostly a show thing. I never shaved mine. Some people shave dairy goats (or part of them at least) to keep the milk cleaner, but I never bothered with that. That's what strainers are for!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Yes, I shave mine in the spring as soon as it's getting to the upper 80s. They are SO much more comfortable. I don't show.

[Blue Run Farm]

I shaved my doe Snickers this year because she was so hot she was panting and seemed miserable. It helped a lot and she seems much happier now, less panting and more roaming about browsing on green stuff. She is a grade Alpine mutt and we don't show, it just helps in the awful heat we've been having this year.

[weisemaries]

When shaving the goats, which blade guard size do you use? I have a set of dog clippers and was wondering the same thing. It is my first time to have goats and it has been in the 90's the last couple of days.

[TheLoveOfGoats]

I show, so mine get shaved in the spring. And I use a 40 blade when saving

[julieq]

We shave everyone when the weather heats up, usually in June. Otherwise they get way too hot here in the high desert. We use a 10 blade for bodies and a 40 blade for udders.

[prairiedog]

We shave and bathe everyone in the spring. Good way to keep them cooler and inspect the skin for any winter ickies under all that fur. Can't stand to milk a hairy udder either.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

If we have 'real' clippers, I use a number 5 or 10 blade on their bodies and a 40 for the udder and halfway up the underbelly.

If we have cheap people clippers (like I have this year) I use a 1/8 inch spacer on the body and no spacer at all on the udder and underbelly.

We don't show. We do it for the heat, and to let the sun and air to the skin, and so we can see the condition of their skin better after it has been buried under a heavy coat all winter.

[TheLoveOfGoats]

haha, ooppps... it was really late when I posted last night... I meant to say I use a 10 AND 40 blade while shaving, like the others They would look pretty funny all shaved in a 40 blade,

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Originally Posted by TheLoveOfGoats

haha, ooppps... it was really late when I posted last night... I meant to say I use a 10 AND 40 blade while shaving, like the others

LOL, I was wondering if you really shaved them bald all over