What type of fleece does a Pygora produce?

The Pygora produces three different fleece types. No one type is better than the other, they just have different characteristics.

TYPE "A" FLEECE - This type most closely resembles mohair. It is long, lustrous fiber of up to six inches long, hanging in long, curly locks. The hair coat is not obvious on a Type "A" goat. This fiber is a very fine quality mohair. The Type "A" coat must be shorn.

TYPE "B" FLEECE - This is a blend of the Pygmy goat undercoat (cashmere) and a very fine quality mohair. It is between three and six inches long, and it has a nice crimp (curl). The second coat is usually obscured by the Type "B" fleeces. Type "B" can either be lustrous or have a matte finish. This fleece type is the most common and these goats may be shorn, combed or plucked.

TYPE "C" FLEECE - A very fine cashmere type fiber with no luster in lengths of one to three inches. The hair coat looks very coarse in comparison to the two types above. Type "C" can be acceptable commercial quality cashmere. These goats may be shorn, combed or plucked.

Harvesting of the fleece consists of shearing of Type "A" fleece goats. Types "B" and "C" will shed there fleeces in the spring if the fiber is not removed. These two later types can be sheared,combed or plucked. All types of fleeces will matte if left too long on the animal.

Most shearing is done in late winter just before kidding. Weather is an important consideration as newly shorn goats. Even though the Pygora is much hardier than the Angora, it still needs adequate bedding and shelter out of the wind and rain if it is to be shorn when the weather is nasty. A good majority of goats will produce two fleeces a year, with the second fleece being harvested in late fall. Shearing can be done with hand or electric shears, or hair-cutting type scissors may be used. Cleanliness is important and care should be taken to limit the amount of vegetable matter in the fleece, as well as second cuts in the shearing process.

To comb out fleece you will need to wait until you see signs that the goat is shedding its fleece. We have found that a wire bristled pet grooming brush takes the coat out easily, although you can use any type of hairbrush or even a cotton carder.

Hand plucking sounds like a lot more work than it really is. Fleece comes out easily if you wait until it has just started the shedding process. We find the time spent plucking the fleece saves alot more time in the dehairing process. Goats generally do not shed all at once, so the plucking process can be repeated every few days as needed.

No matter what the fleece type or the method of harvesting, the fleece should be brushed or blown out before the harvesting process is begun. This will remove as much hay, seeds or vegetable debris as possible, as well as any dirt that may be clinging to the fibers. The harvested fleece may be spun before or after washing. If the fleece is washed before spinning, gentle handling will eliminate possible felting of the fleece.

There is little to no lanolin in Pygora fleece, so care must be taken not to over-spin it. It blends very well with wool and silk, although we prefer the soft feel of straight Pygora yarn. Pygora fleece will easily take natural, commercial or Kool-Aid dyes. The Pygora fleece is soft, warm and durable fiber, capable of producing everything from fine lace shawls to warm and comfy winter socks and sweaters.