Livestock & Equestrian Clipper Blade Chart: Complete Reference Guide

Universal Blade Sizing | Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs | Brand Comparison

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Blade ID	Cut Length	mm	Teeth	Width	Primary Use	Animals	Brands
A2F/AC Fine	3/64"	1.4	35	3"	Close clip horses, slick shear sheep, cattle heads/bodies	Horses, Cattle, Sheep	Lister, Wahl
A2/AC Medium	3/32"	2.5	35	3"	General grooming, more hair, hide pink skin	Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Alpacas	Lister, Wahl
A2C/AC Close	~1/32"	1.0	35	3"	Very close cut, longer between clips	Horses, Cattle	Lister
CA2 Coarse	1/8"	3.0	18	3"	Dirty/muddy animals, thick coats	Horses, Cattle, Sheep	Lister
Covercote	1/4"	6.0	24	3"	Horse legs, seasonal change, Cushing's	Horses	Lister
Premier Super Surgical	0.02"	0.5	35	Std	Closest cut, slick lambs, surgical (expert only)	Lambs, Surgical	Premier
Premier Surgical	0.04"	1.0	35	Std	Shave to skin, slick lambs, surgical	Lambs, Surgical	Premier
Premier Fine	0.06"	1.5	35	Std	Slick sheep, cattle heads/tails, body clip horses	Sheep, Cattle, Horses	Premier
Premier Medium	0.08"	2.0	35	Std	Goats, pink sheep, body clip horses	Goats, Sheep, Horses	Premier
Premier Coarse	0.12"	3.0	18	Std	More fiber, dirty coats	Sheep, Goats, Cattle	Premier
Premier XtraCover	0.25"	6.4	24/22	Std	300% more fiber, pig regs compliance	Pigs, Sheep, Goats	Premier
Heiniger 18/15	2-4mm	2-4	18/15	Std	Medium cut, general livestock	Cattle, Horses, Sheep	Heiniger
Heiniger 18/23	2-4mm	2-4	18/23	Std	Medium-fine, cleaner finish	Cattle, Horses, Show	Heiniger
Heiniger 21/23	2-4mm	2-4	21/23	Std	Fewer teeth, dirty coats	Cattle, Horses, Muddy	Heiniger
Heiniger 31/23	1-2mm	1-2	31/23	Std	Close cut, show finish	Show Cattle, Show Horses	Heiniger
Andis #10 Large	1/16"	1.6	35	Wide	General body clip, versatile	Horses, Cattle, Alpacas	Andis
Andis #15 Large	3/64"	1.2	35	Wide	Close detail, faces	Horses, Cattle, Show	Andis
Andis #30 Large	1/50"	0.5	35	Wide	Very close, surgical, sanitary	Horses, Cattle, Surgical	Andis
Andis #40 Large	1/100"	0.25	35	Wide	Surgical close, vet use	All Livestock, Surgical	Andis
Andis Adjustable 9-40	Variable	0.25-2.0	Var	Adj	Multi-length: #9, #10, #15, #30, #40	Horses, Cattle, Livestock	Andis
Oster #10 Wide	1/16"	1.6	35	Wide	Fast body clip, general	Horses, Cattle	Oster
Oster #15 Wide	3/64"	1.2	35	Wide	Close finish work	Horses, Show	Oster
Oster #30 Wide	1/50"	0.5	35	Wide	Surgical, sanitary, very close	All Livestock	Oster
Lister Wizard Sheep	Variable	1-3	Comb	Narrow	Dagging sheep (not full shearing)	Sheep, Goats	Lister
Heiniger Sheep Comb	Variable	0.5-2	13-31	Narrow	Full shearing, wool removal	Sheep, Alpacas, Llamas	Heiniger
Show Blocking Blade	1/4"-1/2"	6-13	Var	Wide	Flat surfaces for show cattle/sheep	Show Cattle, Show Sheep	Lister, Premier, Heiniger
Detail/Trimmer	1/16"-1/8"	1.6-3.2	Var	Narrow	Ears, faces, hooves, detail	All Livestock	Andis, Oster, Wahl

Brand Comparison & Steel Quality

What Makes Livestock Blades Different?

Livestock blades are built for tougher conditions than pet grooming blades. They handle thicker hair, dirtier coats, and longer clipping sessions on larger animals.

Brand	Steel Type	Rockwell (HRC)	Durability	Special Features
Heiniger	High Carbon Swiss Steel	61-63	Excellent	Swiss precision, lasts longer between sharpenings
Furzone (A2 Series)	Japan High-Carbon Steel	62	Excellent	Chrome plated, rust resistant
Andis (Livestock)	Carbonized Steel	61-62	Very Good	A5 compatible, versatile for all livestock
Lister / Wahl	Carbon Chrome Vanadium	60-62	Excellent	Ultra-hard steel blend, proven British engineering
Premier	High Carbon Steel	60-62	Very Good	Designed for American livestock conditions
Oster (Livestock)	Carbon Steel	60-62	Very Good	A5 compatible, reliable performance

For Reference:

• Pet grooming blades: 60-62 HRC
• Premium livestock blades: 60-63 HRC
• Professional knife blades: 55-60 HRC

What This Means: Livestock blades prioritize durability and toughness over ultra-sharpness. They're designed to handle thicker hair, dirty coats, and longer clipping sessions on horses, cattle, sheep, and other large animals.

Choosing the Right Blade for Your Animal

By Animal Type

HORSES

Full Body Clipping:

• Winter coat removal: Lister A2F/AC (Fine) or A2/AC (Medium)

• Show clipping: Lister A2F/AC (Fine) for smooth finish

• Trace/blanket clip: Andis #10 or #10W (wide for speed)

• Hunter clip: A2F/AC or #10

Detail Work:

• Bridle path: Andis/Oster #30 or #40

• Ears: #10 or #30

• Fetlocks: #10

• Muzzle: #30 or #40

Seasonal Considerations:

• Autumn (pre-winter): Covercote blade (leaves protective 5-6mm coat)

• Spring (shedding season): Medium blade to help coat transition

• Cushing's disease horses: Covercote blade (protects sensitive skin)

CATTLE

Show Blocking (Beef Cattle):

• Initial rough clip: Lister CA2 (Coarse) or Premier Coarse

• Finishing work: Lister A2F/AC (Fine) or Premier Fine

• Head/belly: Lister A2F/AC (Fine)

• Body sculpting: Lister A2/AC (Medium) leaves hair for shaping

Dairy Cattle:

• Udder clipping: Premier Surgical or Fine (hygiene critical)

• Tail head: Medium or Fine blade

• Full body (summer heat): Medium blade

SHEEP

Slick Shearing (Market Lambs):

• Show lambs: Premier Super Surgical (0.02") or Surgical (0.04")

• Close finish: Lister A2F/AC (Fine) or Premier Fine

• Alternative: Lister Wizard blade for dagging

Dagging/Crutching:

• Pre-lambing cleanup: Lister Wizard or Premier Medium

• Tail area: Fine or Medium blade

GOATS

Show Goats:

• Body clipping: Premier Medium (0.08") - ideal for pink-skinned goats

• Close finish: Premier Fine or Lister A2F/AC

Dairy Goats:

• Udder area: Premier Surgical or Fine

• Full body (summer): Medium blade

PIGS / HOGS

Show Pigs:

• Meet regulations: Premier XtraCover (0.25") - leaves required hair length

• Body prep: Check local show rules for minimum hair length

• Alternative: Premier Medium if longer coat allowed

ALPACAS / LLAMAS

Fiber Removal:

• Specialized combs: Heiniger Narrow Comb or Premier blade sets

• Critical: Use frequent lubrication (dry fiber requires oil every 1-2 minutes)

• Avoid: Standard sheep/cattle blades (different fiber structure)

By Clipping Scenario

Dirty/Muddy Animals:

• Use: Lister CA2 (Coarse), Premier Coarse, or Heiniger 21/23

• Why: Fewer teeth cut through dirt without clogging

Clean, Show-Ready Animals:

• Use: Lister A2F/AC (Fine), Premier Fine, or Heiniger 31/23

• Why: More teeth give smooth, professional finish

First-Time Clipping (Nervous Animals):

• Use: Medium blade (less aggressive)

• Start: Legs and less sensitive areas first

• Consider: Covercote for extra skin protection

Emergency Veterinary Prep:

• Use: Premier Surgical or Super Surgical

• Why: Surgical-close for medical procedures

Blade Maintenance for Livestock Use

Daily Maintenance (Professional/Show Operations)

Oil frequently - every 3 minutes of use:

• Livestock hair is coarser than pet hair

• Dirt and debris accelerate wear

• 3 drops of oil on blade teeth while clipper runs

• More often for alpaca/llama (every 1-2 minutes)

Before each clipping session:

• Check blade tension (critical for livestock blades)

• Verify teeth are not bent or damaged

• Oil blade and run for 10 seconds

After each animal:

• Brush off hair and debris immediately

• Wipe with blade wash or spray cleaner

• Re-oil to prevent rust (high-carbon steel rusts overnight)

Tensioning Livestock Blades

Why it matters more:

• Livestock clippers have more power

• Improper tension causes chattering or blade failure

• Correct tension = smooth cutting, longer blade life

How to adjust:

1. Remove blade from clipper

2. Cutter should move side-to-side with slight resistance

3. Too loose = chattering, poor cut quality

4. Too tight = excessive heat, blade won't move

5. Use tension screw or spring adjustment per manufacturer specs

Signs Your Livestock Blade Needs Sharpening

❌ Pulling hair instead of clean cutting
❌ Leaving uneven lines or track marks
❌ Blade running hot within 5 minutes
❌ Taking multiple passes to clip same area
❌ Clipper bogging down in coat (blade dulling causes this)
❌ Animal showing discomfort (dull blades pull)

Don't wait. Livestock blades work harder than pet blades. Sharpen at first sign.

Sharpening Frequency for Livestock

Show Operations (Daily Use):

• Sharpen: Every 10-15 animals (or weekly during show season)

• Have: 3+ sets of each blade type

• Rotate: Fresh blade every 3-5 animals

Ranch/Farm (Regular Use):

• Horses (5-10/month): Sharpen every 2-3 months

• Cattle (10-20/month): Sharpen every 4-6 weeks

• Sheep (seasonal shearing): Sharpen before each season

Occasional Use:

• Sharpen: 1-2 times per year or every 10-15 animals

Critical factors:

• Dirty coats dull blades 3-5x faster

• Winter coats are thicker = more wear

• Sheep wool is abrasive = frequent sharpening needed

Professional Sharpening vs. DIY

Why livestock blades need professional sharpening:

• Wider blades require specialized equipment

• Tension adjustment is critical

• Improper sharpening ruins geometry permanently

• Lapping machines (not grinding wheels) required

Battle Born Blade Sharpening:

Sharpen all blades according to The Sharpener Standard qualifications.

We sharpen all livestock and equestrian blades:

• Lister A2 series (all grades)

• Heiniger blade sets (all sizes)

• Premier blade sets (all types)

• Andis/Oster A5 compatible

• Specialty sheep shearing combs and cutters

Service includes:

• Hollow grinding on lapping machine

• Tension adjustment and testing

• Socket/hinge inspection

• Quality test on actual hair/wool

• 48-hour turnaround nationwide

Blade Compatibility Guide

Lister A2 Series Compatibility

These blades fit:

• Lister Star

• Lister Legend

• Lister Liberty

• Lister Fusion

• Lister Eclipse

• Lister Showman

• Lister Stablemate

• Premier 3000c

• Premier 4000c (most blades)

Note: Lister Wizard blades are specialized for sheep/dagging

Heiniger Blade Compatibility

Heiniger blade sets fit:

• Heiniger Handy

• Heiniger Xplorer

• Heiniger Xplorer Pro

• Heiniger Xperience

• Oster Clipmaster (some models)

Do NOT fit: Premier 4000c

Andis/Oster A5 Compatibility

Standard A5 blades fit:

• Andis AG, AGC, AGR+ series

• Oster A5, A6, Golden A5

• Wahl KM series

• Most other A5-standard clippers

Use for livestock:

• Horses (detail work, body clipping)

• Cattle (show prep, detail)

• Small livestock

Storage & Rust Prevention

Livestock blades rust faster:

• Outdoor/barn conditions = humidity

• Dirt and moisture accelerate corrosion

• High-carbon steel rusts overnight if not oiled

Proper storage:

1. Clean and oil blade after EVERY use

2. Store in dry location (not barn if humid)

3. Use blade storage box or case

4. Check blades monthly during off-season

5. Re-oil if any rust spots appear

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Clipping dirty animals

• Always wash and dry before clipping

• Dirt dulls blades in minutes

• Costs more in blade sharpening than bath supplies

❌ Wrong blade for the job

• Fine blades on dirty coats = instant dullness

• Coarse blades on show animals = rough finish

❌ Not oiling enough

• Livestock work requires oil every 3 minutes

• Under-oiling causes heat and premature wear

❌ Using pet grooming blades on livestock

• Pet blades aren't built for livestock work

• They'll dull immediately or break

❌ Over-tightening blades

• Causes excessive heat

• Breaks tension springs

• Shortens blade life

Start a Mail-In Sharpening Order

Additional Resources

Need help choosing a blade?
Contact us - We sharpen livestock blades daily and can recommend the right blade for your operation.

Want to learn professional blade sharpening?
[1-on-1 Training Program] - Learn livestock blade sharpening techniques.

Keywords: livestock clipper blades, horse clipping blades, cattle show blades, sheep shearing blades, Lister blades, Heiniger blades, Premier blades, A2 blade chart, equestrian grooming, livestock blade sizes, show cattle clipping, horse body clipping clipper blade systems.

Last Updated: January 2026

All livestock and equestrian blades sharpened by Battle Born Blade Sharpening meet The Sharpener Standard™ for edge geometry, sharpness, and performance. Specialized equipment and testing for livestock blade applications. Nationwide mail-in sharpening service. 48-hour turnaround.