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here are some hopefully helpful tips on harvesting. I'm still learning as I go, so I will update
this as I figure things out.
Choose your method. Your options are pluck, comb, or shear. If you shear you can choose
a manual scissor type tool or electric shears. There are advantages and disadvantages to
all of these.
Note 9/2007: This page hasn't been updated for years. We are now
breeding for fleeces that do not release on their own-they are less
likely to mat. I shear everyone with clipmaster electric clippers. I
send all fleeces to my favorite processor for dehairing (email me
and I'll tell you who it is). I will update the rest of the info on this
page sometime soon.
Plucking: Recommended-if the goat will pluck-then pluck! I can pluck more nearly
guardhair-free fiber in 5 min then I can hand-de hair sheared fiber in an hour. Plus, its kind
of fun. More upsides: no cut edges, no noils. If its cold out this offers a nice transition for
the goat, plus they can keep their guard hair for warmth. The downside is that you probably
won't harvest a whole fleece in one go, like you can with shearing. If your animals are wild
and hard to catch this might be a problem (ours are very tame and love going to the goat
stand so this isn't a big deal). The fleece will probably release a little at a time. When a goat
is shedding, they get breakfast in the stand everyday and I pluck for about as long as it
takes them to eat their food. The method is simple, the fiber is either ready to release or it
isn't. Pinch a lock at the tip and pull. Lay it in a box with the fiber going all in one direction.
Once there is no more locks in a area, go over it with the comb. It always brings out a
surprising amount of hidden fiber for me.
Combing: I can't recommend a favorite comb as of yet. I use a few different ones
depending on the fleece. Once again, I wait till the fleece is shedding and go over it with the
comb. I do a few swipes, and unload the fiber (all in one direction) into my other hand.
Combing creates noils and wastes more fiber in the mini-combing process then plucking
does so I don't do a lot of it.
Shearing: The upside is that it is quick. Give me 20 min and some electric shears and I will
shear you a nice fleece! Put that fleece in my dehairing pile and you won't see it again for
months and months. I now try to "stack locks" as I shear which speeds up dehairing but its
still time-consuming any way you look at it. Some fleeces cannot be harvested by the other
2 methods or perhaps do not need dehairing so this would be your best option.
Hand shears (I use fiskars which are simply craft scissors that spring back open) offer a lot
of control and give me a nicer product in the box. Less 2nd cuts, very intact locks. I can
control how much fiber is left on the goat so if its cold out, I can compensate. Unfortunately,
this method is much more likely to cut the goat. NEVER pull on the fiber as you cut. Hold the
shears parallel to the goat. I clamshell my hand on the fiber to make a long thin section,
wiggle the shear in, relax the fiber, and cut. I repeat till that section pulls free. Be very
careful by where the back legs join to the belly-the bridge of skin is thin there. Be careful of
doe and buck parts, and wattles (keep a record of who has wattles, they are nearly
impossible to find when a goat is in full fleece unless you know they are there. I'd be happy
to breed this cute but troublesome feature out of my herd.) I think this method of harvest
would be impossible if my goats didn't stand so still for me. If possible, buy your goats from
someone who makes getting them used to being handled a priority. It will really make your
life easier in so many ways.
Electric shears are quick and easy. I've never cut a goat using them. Just be careful
around the bony areas. Fortunately, Pygoras have much fewer of these then the angoras.
Unless you have a special "goat-saver" guard to keep the fiber length from being so short,
you will end up with a very naked goat. Goats are not as cold tolerant as sheep so in some
weather this is a problem. I've been shearing as a 2 step process which seems to work
well-no shivering and everyone seems happier with it. I shear the barrel area one day and
then the rest a week or two later. The first seems to harden the goat up against the cold,
plus they have a little growth on the barrel before I do the rest. They've done better with this
then using coats so we've pretty much done away with the coats. Other thoughts on electric
shears: If the fleece is really thick and will lock together, you can shear it as one piece and it
will be pretty easy. If it isn't a thick dense fleece it will come apart on you and be a pain.
Skirting: Skirting is removing unwanted parts of the fleece, and/or separating a fleece into
different grades of fiber. Heavily soiled areas are tossed, really nice fiber may be separated
from some that is not quite as nice. I perfer to skirt as I shear, I usually take the best fiber off
first, then 2nd best, then the garbage. I used to toss the dorsal stipe on sheared animals but
have learned how to extricate the good fiber here fairly easily. The guardhair here is usually
much longer then the spinnable fiber so when you have your clamshell handful of fiber, just
grab the long hairs and pull them out.
Don't know what fleece type you have? If it has curl up the whole lock, or nearly the whole
lock (at full length, at harvest), it is probably a A or AB and will need to be sheared. If the
curl is only at the tip and the rest is crimpy or straight, It is probably a BC. No curls: probably
a C. 1/2 curl and 1/2 crimp: probably a B.
Perfect for collecting fleece.
Want to make a stand like
this? This took me two hours
and no prior power tool
experience. Email me and I'll
send you the measurements.
The picture show my boxes at
the ready to separate the
different grades of fiber.
