Goats Beaten, Dragged, and Left Bleeding for ‘Humane’ Mohair

On “humane” and “responsible” mohair farms in South Africa and Lesotho, workers force goats to endure hell on earth. New footage, captured by PETA investigators, shows workers violently hitting goats with brooms and poles, dragging struggling goats by their horns and legs, and pinning goats to the ground as the animals cry out in fear and pain.

The investigation includes footage from shearing sheds certified by the misleadingly named “Responsible Mohair Standard” and implicates Paul Smith, the British fashion house selling suits and apparel made with mohair, whose products are sold in stores across Asia.

This footage was sent to Paul Smith representatives, but they chose to ignore this violence. See the shocking video for yourself, and take action for goats by urging Paul Smith to stop hiding behind meaningless labels and to end its use of mohair.

Goats Scream as Workers Shear Them for Mohair
Shearing is extremely stressful to goats, who are instinctually terrified of being pinned down. Because shearers are paid by volume, not by the hour, they work quickly and often without care for the panicking goats. PETA investigators recorded workers shearing goats so carelessly that several were left with bloody wounds. The undercover footage also shows workers grabbing and dragging goats by their sensitive ears, horns, tails, legs, and fleece—often lifting or yanking them in ways that caused the animals to fall, flail, or cry out during shearing.

Their screams are a wake-up call to anyone considering buying a Paul Smith suit or sweater made with mohair.

One goat was suffering from a large, gaping wound after reportedly being attacked by a jackal—yet was shorn anyway. The goat screamed in agony while a worker carelessly cut around the animal’s torn flesh.

Workers repeatedly struck, jabbed, whipped, and poked goats in the face and back using tools like brooms and poles in aggressive attempts to force them into pens or control their movements. The undercover footage also shows workers hauling goats around by their tails, which could easily break their spines.

At one “responsible” mohair facility, many goats appeared emaciated, while at another facility, the bodies of several dead goats—including a baby goat—were found discarded in a heap.

There’s No Such Thing as ‘Responsible’ Mohair
The explosive footage marks PETA’s second investigation into mohair operations in South Africa, where most of the world’s mohair originates. In the first investigation, eyewitnesses caught shearers cutting broad swaths of skin off some animals and crudely stitching up the most gaping wounds on the filthy shearing floor, without providing any pain relief.

Anyone trying on a Paul Smith mohair suit should know that violence is stitched into the fabric. This second investigation makes it clear that the mohair industry is rampant with pervasive cruelty and systemic abuse, regardless of whether the facility is certified by the Responsible Mohair Standard.

Goats wag their tails and jump for joy when they’re happy. Mother goats form strong bonds with their babies, and both mother and baby recognize each other’s distinct calls—or “bleats”—shortly after birth. But in the mohair industry, goat kids are shorn starting as early as 6 months old. As soon as their hair quality declines or they’re deemed no longer useful, workers kill the goats, often many years short of their natural life expectancy.

Tell Paul Smith That Mohair Belongs Nowhere—Except on Goats’ Bodies
Paul Smith markets mohair as a “specialty,” but behind every mohair garment are blood, panic, beatings, and cries from goats. Goats need their hair; humans don’t. The best thing that you can do to help exploited goats is to refuse to buy mohair—and urge Paul Smith to stop selling it.

Adidas, Barbour, Gap, Mango, UNIQLO, Zara, and many other top retailers have banned mohair. Now, PETA is calling on Paul Smith to follow suit.