The luxurious fiber of kings is produced from the lowly Cashmere goat. More than 60% of the world’s cashmere is produced in China and the remainder in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Kashmir, Australia, and New Zealand.

Cashmere goats were imported from Australia and New Zealand to the U.S. in the 1800s. This breed is easy to raise and needs minimal management. They are not agile, are easy to contain and need shelter due to the insulated nature of their dual coat, which is shed in summer. They are sheared once a year and an adult buck will shear about 2.5 lbs. of fleece, which contains guard hair and about 20% cashmere. Fleece can be sold to wholesale buyers or de-haired and sold to individual spinners.

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