Sep 14, 2026 · 51 min · 10 segments
In this episode, we explore the art and discipline ofpreparing cattle for the show ring with experienced fitter and exhibitor Luke Gilbert. From animal selection and feeding programmes through to…
Luke GilbertGuestSelwynHostSo it's said that a workman or a workwoman is only as good as its tools that they use.
So give us a little bit of a breakdown on the clippers that you use and other equipment that is vital to making the job not only easier, but making the finished product really A-1.
So yeah, there's a few tools, as we call them, like clippers/hairdryers we need.
First and foremost, you need yourself a good set of big clippers, is what we call them.
Uh, they might be Heiniger Handies, is the ones I use, or X-Series I think is the new version of it.
And then the blades that I use on them, we call them ground downs, and you can get someone to grind them down a little bit, and it just sorta gives them a nicer finish than the factory-made ones.
Then you've got sets of little clippers, and you've got detachable blades on them.
When we clip the udder, the ears, and the tail, we use a blade called 50, which you can buy at Schoof and various other places.
And the 50s takes it down to basically the skin really, and it gives it that nice clean finish on the udder and tail and ears, like I said.
And- We then also buy, I don't even know the brand, it's a gold clipper that we call Arcos.
They're cordless clippers, and you can use them to tidy up bits, and it's very, very handy to have them on.
And when we say a good hairdryer, I wouldn't suggest going to the warehouse and getting yourself a $30 hairdryer.
I think the one I bought, this is [laughs] I would've bought it over 10 years ago.
It needs to blow out lots of heat, it needs to have lots of power, and you want the nozzle to not be too big and wide.
You want it quite a narrow nozzle so that all the heat is getting directed onto the hair that you're trying to blow up.
The reason we use that, we blow up what we call the top line, and it sort of gives them a nice little finish, and then you'll cut it out with your clippers.
So it's said that a workman or a workwoman is only as good as its tools that they use.
So give us a little bit of a breakdown on the clippers that you use and other equipment that is vital to making the job not only easier, but making the finished product really A-1.
So yeah, there's a few tools, as we call them, like clippers/hairdryers we need.
First and foremost, you need yourself a good set of big clippers, is what we call them.
Uh, they might be Heiniger Handies, is the ones I use, or X-Series I think is the new version of it.
And then the blades that I use on them, we call them ground downs, and you can get someone to grind them down a little bit, and it just sorta gives them a nicer finish than the factory-made ones.
Then you've got sets of little clippers, and you've got detachable blades on them.
When we clip the udder, the ears, and the tail, we use a blade called 50, which you can buy at Schoof and various other places.
And the 50s takes it down to basically the skin really, and it gives it that nice clean finish on the udder and tail and ears, like I said.
And- We then also buy, I don't even know the brand, it's a gold clipper that we call Arcos.
They're cordless clippers, and you can use them to tidy up bits, and it's very, very handy to have them on.
And when we say a good hairdryer, I wouldn't suggest going to the warehouse and getting yourself a $30 hairdryer.
I think the one I bought, this is [laughs] I would've bought it over 10 years ago.
It needs to blow out lots of heat, it needs to have lots of power, and you want the nozzle to not be too big and wide.
You want it quite a narrow nozzle so that all the heat is getting directed onto the hair that you're trying to blow up.
The reason we use that, we blow up what we call the top line, and it sort of gives them a nice little finish, and then you'll cut it out with your clippers.
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