Top 4 Ways To Achieve Cattle Clipping Perfection

By Kirk Stierwalt

Whether you’re showing for the first time or have been grooming cattle for years, you need reliable tools that get the job done right. How can you easily keep your clippers, trimmers and grooming tools working great all year round? Renowned Andis Grooming Educator Kirk Stierwalt says maintenance is key.

“I travel all around the country helping people of all ages acquire skills they need to put the ‘competitive edge’ on their side,” says Stierwalt. “I consistently find people don’t properly care for one of their everyday investments—clippers.”
Stierwalt shares a few of the maintenance tips and tricks he stands by to make sure his clippers and grooming tools are working perfectly whether he’s on the go, in the barn or getting ready for show season.

#1 Be Proactive
Taking the time and making a habit of maintaining your blades will save you time and money by not having to repair or replace your clipper blades.
As a national grooming educator for Andis Company, Stierwalt is a huge proponent for clipper maintenance because it also ensures the grooming and trimming experience will be the most comfortable and efficient for your cattle and you.
“For example, right now my go-to clipper is the Andis Pulse ZR™ Cordless Detachable Blade Clipper because its powerful, heavy-duty and now comes standard with the Andis Super Blocking UltraEdge® Blade.”
“I think of maintaining my tools like I think of maintaining my truck—I would never drive my truck for long periods of time without getting an oil change, rotating the tires or checking the filters. Your clippers are no different.”

#2 Oil Your Blades
The number one rule for keeping your clipper running smoothly is well-oiled blades.  
You should oil your clipper blade every 30 minutes while in use. Start the cleaning process by removing excess hair from the blade using a soft brush. Then, apply Andis Clipper Oil on each side of the blade. Wipe the blade clean with a cloth or towel and you will be ready to get back to work.

#3 Care for Your Cords
Did you know that the cord is one of the most important parts on the clipper?
Whenever you’re using a corded clipper, like the Andis AGC Super 2-Speed or ProClip Excel™, it’s important to use proper positioning to prevent tangles.
Tangles that are bad enough can lead to shorts in the cord, which means wasted time, and nobody wants that, Stierwalt says.
According to Stierwalt, you should never wrap your cord around your clipper, as that can weaken the electrical connection in the tool and cause long-term performance issues.
His preference? Drop the cord over the back of your shoulder so the excess cord isn’t touching or dragging across your steer or heifer.

#4 Disinfect After Every Groom
Don’t forget to disinfect!
After every groom, spray Andis Blade Care Plus to disinfect, clean, cool and lubricate the blades. The 7-in-1 solution is Vitamin E-enriched—and prevents rust all at once.
“If you’re working in the heat or doing a large volume of cutting that results in your blade getting warm to the touch, I would recommend Andis Cool Care Plus,” says Stierwalt. “A hefty spray of Andis Cool Care will bring that blade temperature back to a comfortable level that won’t cause irritation for your animal.”
Great cattle grooming is only achieved with practice and great tools, making maintenance key to your success. You’ll be well on your way if you can remember these four things: be proactive, oil-oil-oil, care for cords, and disinfect!

About Kirk Stierwalt
Kirk Stierwalt lives in Leedey, Oklahoma, where he and his family own and operate Stierwalt Show Cattle, which for years has consistently sold champion show cattle across Oklahoma and the United States. Kirk also runs Stierwalt Show Cattle Clinics. These clinics have been very successful in helping people of all ages acquire the skills needed to put the “competitive edge” on their side. Along with these needed skills, Kirk’s clinics provide a wealth of knowledge including many techniques that have taken years of “being in the business” to learn. Participants have gone on from these sessions and received immediate and rewarding results on local and national levels. Kirk has judged numerous cattle shows and showmanship contests throughout the United States and has been an Andis educator for 10 years.