Shearing Grace our Pygora fiber goat

Shearing a Pygora goat’s fiber is something you can learn by watching this video. You will also want to see someone do a shearing in person so you can hold the clipper (shearing equipment) and have someone demonstrate and help you build your confidence. If you just purchased your first fiber goat; now is a good time to ask the breeder if you can stop by on a day they will be working on their goat. Plan a trip back to watch and learn in person. Another option would be to attend a goat clinic that demonstrates working on a fiber goat.
Key points in shearing your goat are:
Shear the fiber when it is at its prime condition and length
Have the proper equipment ready in working condition
Have a well-lit area you can work in and stay out of elements like rain, wind, or cold temperatures.
Have the goat familiar with having a leash put on it, as you have already placed a collar on her so she can be led to the shearing stand (stanchion).
Should you nick the goat or yourself, have your basic first aid kit available.
Try to have an assistant (friend-husband-co-worker) on hand to give you an extra set of hands.
Keep a notebook handy to check off the list of items you will be looking at on your goat as long as you have her on the stand.
Have a container ready to place your fiber in. (One for the prime fiber and One for seconds)- Be sure to write down the date when you harvested the fiber as you will want to remember that date should you want to enter any of your fiber into a Pygora Sanctioned Fiber show.
We live in central North Dakota.
This means we can have extremely cold temperatures in the winter months. We choose to let the goat keep her coat if it is simply too extreme outside; no matter if the fiber is ready, we will always choose what is best for the goat. . Most of our goats produce enough fiber to let us shear them in Spring and again in the Fall. You can guess which harvest time brings the best fiber. You got it! That would be Fall. Why is that? It is because goats graze out in the pasture on our farm all summer long. They are not raising their heads to a hay feeder and sleeping in hay-fallout. The fiber is much cleaner and so much easier to prepare for processing.
The process of preparing the fiber to be sent to a mill or to be hand-combed is called
skirting.* see my video on skirting
We have another video on the Equipment list.
Use a clean container you plan on storing your fiber. Have another container for your second cuttings. I use a large clear plastic bag for the premium cuts and a brown paper bag for the seconds. I take a black Sharpie and write the name of the goat, the date I sheared, and the fact that these are seconds. When all finished with the shearing, I place the brown paper bag in the large plastic bag and it serves as a label. This helps me know who the goat is, when I sheared her, and what fiber I am working with. You will need to have this information if you are entering your fiber in a show. You will also want to have a way of comparing how this goat’s fiber is working out or in need of a different harvesting plan for the next shear date.
Being in a comfortable position is key for working on any goat. You will learn what position is best for you. Taking a break and being calm during the process helps. If you are calm, the goat will be as well!
The premium fiber will come from your goat’s barrel and front chest. The underside (especially a buck) will be dirty, matted, or full of buck perfume. As you start to work with your goat and feel the fiber you will understand where the best fiber is. Pygoras have 2 layers of fiber. One is guard hair and the other is the soft luxurious undercoat. You will decide which cuts you will simply throw away and which ones you can not part with. I like to keep the wonderful curled locks for fiber projects. Once you start sorting through your bag of fiber when you skirt it, you will develop a system that is best for you. Some owners sheer and skirt the fiber as they shear the fiber. It is a slower method; however, it means when you are done shearing you are also done skirting!
Being a member of the Pygora Breeders Association means I have many many mentors and encouragers that help answer questions I have. pba-pygora.org/
You can follow my herd on my Facebook page: Dakota Pygoras.
You can read more about my journey on my blog at: www.dakotapygoras.com