Raising Cashmere Goats

Raising Cashmere Goats

Raising Cashmere Goats

Raising Cashmere goats is a niche but increasingly popular pursuit for fiber-focused homesteaders, handspinners, and sustainable textile enthusiasts. Unlike Angora goats (which produce mohair), Cashmere goats grow a soft, ultra-fine undercoat—the legendary cashmere fiber—beneath their coarse outer guard hairs. This undercoat is naturally shed in spring and can be harvested through combing or shearing.

While no single “Cashmere goat” breed exists in the U.S., many breeds (including Pygmy, Spanish, and feral goats) can produce cashmere if genetically predisposed. True Cashmere-producing goats are selected and managed specifically for fiber quality and quantity.

1. Understanding Cashmere Goats

• Fiber source: Soft, downy undercoat (not the outer hair)

• Fiber traits:

  • Diameter: ≤19 microns (softer than merino wool)

  • Length: 1.5–2+ inches

  • Yield: 2–8 oz per goat annually (varies by genetics and care)

• Breeds:

  • No standardized breed in North America

  • Common fiber-producing types: Spanish goats, Pygmy goats, Australian Cashmere goats, or crossbred “brush goats”

• Shedding: Naturally shed in spring—harvest window is narrow (4–6 weeks)

🌍 True Cashmere originated in Mongolia and China, but North American producers are developing high-quality local sources.

2. Why Raise Cashmere Goats?

• Produce luxury fiber with high handspinner demand

• Low environmental impact (browsers, not grazers)

• Dual-purpose potential (fiber + meat, especially with Spanish-type goats)

• Support heritage brush goat conservation

• Great for small acreage—goats clear brush while producing fiber

❌ Not a dairy breed. Fiber is the primary product.

3. Housing & Environment

Cashmere goats are hardy and adaptable—but fiber quality depends on clean, dry conditions.

• Shelter:

  • Three-sided shed acceptable in dry climates

  • Fully enclosed in wet/snowy regions (wet fiber = mold, matting, lower value)

  • Dry bedding essential (straw or wood shavings)

• Space:

  • 200+ sq ft per goat in a dry lot

  • Browsing area with shrubs, weeds, and safe trees preferred

• Drainage: Critical—muddy pens ruin fiber and cause hoof rot

❄️ Unlike Angoras, most Cashmere goats are cold-hardy due to thick winter coats—just keep them dry.

4. Fencing

• Height: 4–5 feet

• Type: Woven wire, cattle panels, or electric netting

• Note: Spanish-type Cashmere goats are agile—ensure fencing is tight and secure

5. Nutrition for Fiber Quality

A healthy diet directly impacts cashmere softness, length, and yield.

• Forage: High-quality hay + natural browse (blackberry, sumac, maple, willow)

• Grain: Optional—only for pregnant, lactating, or growing goats (0.5–1 lb/day)

• Minerals: Loose goat minerals with copper—deficiency causes rough fiber and fading color

• Clean water: Always available—dehydration reduces fiber quality

• Avoid: Moldy hay or sudden diet changes

6. Fiber Harvesting (The Key Step!)

Cashmere is not sheared like wool—it’s collected during natural shedding.

Methods:

1. Combing (Preferred):

   • Use a fine-toothed cashmere comb or dog slicker brush

   • Done daily during spring shed (March–May, depending on climate)

   • Yields clean, unmatted fiber—highest value

2. Shearing:

   • Shear entire coat in early spring

   • Requires dehairing (separating fine undercoat from guard hairs)—done by mills

   • Faster but lower net yield; more labor post-harvest

🕒 Timing is critical: Harvest too early = low yield; too late = fiber lost to rubbing/off.

7. Fiber Processing & Value

• Raw cashmere must be dehaired (guard hairs removed) to be usable

• Options:

  • Send to a specialty mill (e.g., Zeilinger’s, Stonehedge Farm)

  • Hand-dehair (tedious but possible for small batches)

• Market:

  • Raw, dehaired cashmere sells for $15–$50+/oz depending on quality

  • Popular with handspinners, micro-mills, and eco-luxury brands

💡 Kid cashmere is the finest and most valuable—consider retaining fiber from young goats.

8. Health & Management

Cashmere goats (especially feral or Spanish types) are generally hardy, but require:

• Parasite control: FAMACHA scoring + rotational browsing

• Hoof trimming: Every 6–8 weeks

• Vaccinations: CD&T standard

• Annual fiber evaluation: Cull poor producers to improve herd genetics

• Predator protection: Secure at night if in rural areas

🧬 Genetic selection is key—keep only goats that produce fine, abundant undercoats.

9. Breeding for Fiber

• Select for:

  • Dense, fine undercoat (<19 microns)

  • High yield (≥4 oz/year)

  • Early and consistent shedding

• Avoid: Goats with sparse, coarse, or non-shedding undercoats

• Record keeping: Track fiber weight, micron count, and shedding dates

📝 Join the Cashmere Goat Association (CGA) or North American Fibershed for breeder networks and testing resources.

10. Challenges to Consider

• Labor-intensive harvest (daily combing during shed)

• Limited processing infrastructure (few mills handle cashmere)

• Variable yields—not all goats produce commercial-grade fiber

• Marketing required—you must find buyers or process value-added (yarn, etc.)

Getting Started: Quick Tips

1. Start with fiber-tested goats—ask for yield/micron data

2. Learn to comb during shedding season—practice on 1–2 goats

3. Keep detailed records of fiber production

4. Network with spinners at fiber festivals or online (Etsy, Ravelry)

5. Prioritize dry, clean living conditions—fiber quality depends on it

Raising Cashmere goats blends animal husbandry with artisanal fiber production. While not as straightforward as raising meat or dairy goats, the reward—ultra-soft, locally grown luxury fiber—is unmatched in the natural textile world.

🐐 “From brush land to boutique yarn—Cashmere goats turn winter warmth into wearable silk.”

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