Pygora goats were first bred in Clackamas County Oregon, in the 1970's, by Katharine Jorgensen, a pygmy goat breeder and hand spinner who was looking to produce a goat that would grow wonderful fiber for spinning. She bred a registered (National Pygmy Goat Association) Pygmy goat and a registered (American Angora Goat Breeders Association) Angora goat and produced the Pygora goat. The Pygora took the best characteristics of the impish Pygmy goat, who is very hardy and produces a very short, soft cashmere-like fiber and the docile, Angora goat, who produces long fiber called mohair. The end result being a medium sized goat who not only is very friendly and healthy, but also produces abundant wonderful fiber which barely changes with the aging of the goat. This fiber, which is classified into three types; A,B and C, is highly sought after and treasured by hand spinners, felters, knitters and other fiber artists alike. The A, B and C is not a grading system, but instead, a way to denote the differences between the three types of fiber. It is important to note that one type of fiber is not better than another, although one may be more suitable for a specific project or your own personal taste. "A" fiber is in ringlet form from the root to the tip of the lock. It is very shiny and cool to the touch, averaging about six inches long. The guard hair is usually very silky and so fine it is not removed before spinning. "A" fiber is most like mohair. "B" fiber is a blend of type A and C. It is wavy with curls on the tip end of the lock. It is not as shiny as type"A", but more so than type "B". The feel of this type of fiber is soft and fluffy. "B" fiber averages three to six inches. It has two types of guard hair, silky and course. Removal of the coarse guard hair before spinning is highly recommended. "C" fiber is crimped and wavy, but has very little curl, if any. It is has a matte look with little shine and feels warm and creamy to the touch. It averages between one and three inches and is very fine. The guard hair of this type of fiber is very coarse, but separates from the fiber easily and needs to be removed before spinning. "C" fiber is most like cashmere. |
| ABOUT PYGORAS |
| Natural before shearing |
| Blown out before shearing |
| After shearing |
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