Cashmere goat

Capra aegagrus f. hircus

The term ‘cashmere goat’ does not refer to a specific breed, but rather to a phenotype of the domestic goat, with around 20 different sub-types. All have a long, fine undercoat.

Red List

Not Evaluated

The cashmere goat is reared in the Himalayas and the Pamir Mountains. It has an unusually fine fleece. Under ideal conditions, the goats produce an undercoat with a diameter of between 12 and 15 µm and an average length of 3.8 cm or more. The international standard for cashmere permits a diameter of up to 18.5 µm for the goat’s hair.

The goats yield between 200 g and 400 g of raw wool. Depending on the quality of the wool, between 100 g and 250 g of this remains. The undercoat is usually combed out. Only a few breeders shear the animals, as this results in a greater loss of valuable cashmere.

The main producers of cashmere wool are China, Australia and New Zealand.

Taxonomy

Bovidae, goats (Capra, approx. 9 species)

Habitat

Domestic animal; steppes and grasslands

Behaviour and ecology

tagaktiv

Social structure

in herds