Pygora goat fiber is a spinner’s dream. It is a cross between a Pygmy goat for their down fiber and an Angora goat for its long locks of mohair. The fiber on a Pygora goat is long curly locks that have the luster from the Angora goat and the shorter wool down fiber from the Pygmy. The best of both worlds, or both goats!
The fiber of Pygora goats reflects the best qualities of both the Angora and the Pygmy. Pygora fiber may be spun and then knitted, woven or crocheted. Because of the fineness of the fiber, it spins into a lovely yarn that is soft enough to be worn next to the skin. Items such as baby garments or luxurious shawls are well suited to Pygora yarn. Pygora also felts beautifully. The locks of Pygora may be used to create wigs, beards or novelty toy, a crafter’s dream. Pygora fiber is fast becoming the preferred choice for crafts people and fiber artists for any number of diverse projects. There are three grades to the fleeces A, B and C. Each letter represents the amount of guard hair and softness in a fleece. All are good. B and C need to be de-haired when processed after shearing. A can be used immediately after shearing and washing. I have both A and B types here on the farm.
We have five Pygora goats among other fiber animals. All of our animals are raised for their fiber. Pygoras are shorn twice a year yielding a wonderful amount of fiber. As all goats, they are playful, inquisitive and sometime troublemakers! We love their antics here on our farm. They liven up the barnyard for sure. Kids love them as well.
Caring for them is much like any goat accept for the fiber. It takes a lot of work to keep chaff out of the fiber. I coat my sheep, keeping them free of chaff, but Pygoras cannot be coated because of the structure of their wool. They will felt, and the wool will be of no use. And feeding is an on-going chore. Special feeders are used to keep them from pulling out too much at once and eating over one another. I have a pet grooming blower that I use every six to eight weeks or so to blow out unwanted VM (vegetable matter) and dust.
As I said they are shorn every six months. After shearing I have about 12 weeks not to worry too much about the fiber. After that period of time I begin the chore of keeping the fleece clean. Goats all need a mineral salt in their diet but it differs from sheep minerals so that needs to be taken into consideration if housing both together. I worm them three times a year and, in-between, I serve up a cocktail of apple cider vinegar that acts as a natural de-wormer and has many health benefits.
I love my goats! They are truly the heart of the barnyard! Goat games are a daily thing on Dream Come True Farm. As we say often, goats will be goats.
Shown here are photographs of some of our Pygora goat kids, processing fiber here on the farm, and handspun Pygora goat fiber
