Traditionally from central Asia, the Cashmere goat produces one of the worlds most expensive and luxurious fibres. Western countries started developing their own herds in the 1970's, because of the increased demand, and a limited, unreliable supply of cashmere. Most herds are bred for both meat and cashmere production - a real dual-purpose animal.

The Cashmere Goat
Cashmere goats come in all colours, however the cashmere will be either white or soft shades of brown or grey. The white fleeces are valued slightly higher than the coloured on the international markets, however coloured fleeces are in demand by weavers, spinners and knitters. Cashmere goats have wide spread horns, which are left on, and they tend to beshorter and blockier in build than a dairy goat. They are hardy, intelligent, and wary. Like other goats, they havestrong herd instincts. Although a definite type of goat, there is no registry for Cashmere goats. They are not considered a "breed" but a type. Cashmere is a fibre definition, and for a goat tobe considered Cashmere, it must produce cashmere fibre. Many goats produce some amount of fuzzy under-down. However, to be classified as cashmere the down must meet stringent criteria for length, diameter, and style or crimp.The fibre must beunder 19 µ in diameter, over 1.25" in length, and have crimp to be considered cashmere. Referred to as "the fibre of Kings" cashmere has always been and remains, a highly prized luxury fibre. Fleeces start growing on the longest day of the year and stop by the winter solstice. The fleece will shed naturally between February and April, and can be harvested by combing or shearing.

Cashmere Fibre
Cashmere is one fibre for which there remains a fairly constant demand. In the last 4 years there have been a number of small mills started in North America with the capability of dehairing and processing cashmere. This has opened some very exciting new opportunities for producers: their own cashmere can be processed for their own use or to sell directly to others. As well, there are established buyers who purchase raw fleeces from producers.

Cashmeres for Meat
Most of the Cashmere goats in this country are bred of Spanish meat goat stock. The shorter, blocky build and the fast rate of gain on thekids have earned this breed a reputation for commercial meat production. Canada imports over 3.5 million lbs. of goat meat a year to supply the growing demand of Canadians from Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, European and African backgrounds. We produce a small fraction of this. The goat meat industry in Canada is rapidly developing as the awareness of meat goats as a profitable/sustainable type of livestock increases. The demand greatly exceeds production.

Pasture Management - Weed Control
Goats are by nature "browsers" rather than "grazers". They are selective in what they eat and prefer a menu quite different from cattle or sheep: willow, poplar shoots, thistles, fire weed, wild roses, stinging nettles, knapweed and leafy spurge are preferred to clover, alfalfa, and grasses. These feeding preferences make goats extremely useful in pasture management programs such as rotational grazing and companion grazing. The opportunity to increase existing livestock numbers by adding goats to the operation presents exciting possibilities for established farms/ranches.

Goats for sale
Unfortunately due to demand for breeding females we have nothing in this category available for sale at the moment. We do however have a number of excellent quality gelded males, currently producing certified cashmere, in white, black and brown for those interested in owning and harvesting the fleece from these enjoyable and versatile animals.