Lets talk Cashmere!

HazyDay · #1 01/08/08, 01:34 PM

What makes it cashmere? I have an Alpine who grows this grey fiber that I am going to get tested to see if it cashmere. But does anyone have an easy way to tell if it is cashmere?? Also what is a fair raw cashmere price?? I have the chance to go and comb out 3 does that are half cashmere and have fiber on their necks and some on the flanks.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 01/08/08, 01:41 PM

It's not cashmere if it's from your dairy goats. It's goat hair. I think it either needs to be Angora or other finely haired goat.

Here's some info I found, then a link to a farm that produces cashmere:

"Despite the glamour associated with cashmere, it hails from humble beginnings. Cashmere is the wool or fur of the Kashmir goat. Kashmir goats are primarily raised in Mongolia, but many are bred in Iran, Tibet, India and China. American herders have also joined the international cashmere production market in recent years."

http://www.greenwaterfarm.com/cashmeregoats.html

HazyDay · #3 01/08/08, 01:44 PM

But the place where our Boer got bred last year, had Spanish Cashmere Meat Goats. They are true cashmere because they were tested to have the genes and cashmere itself.

Another book says any breed can have it. I was told cashmere is just like down on a goose or duck.

huh? Maybe she doesn't have cashmere, but it is still spin-able I am told.

Sweet Goats · #4 01/08/08, 04:00 PM

No Cashmere like fiber can come from ANY goat BUT a Angora. Angora goats produce Mohair.
Hazyday, the only real way to tell if it is CASHMERE is to have it tested. In order for it to be really called Cashmere it has to be at least 1-1/2" long and it has to have a Micron count below 19. the micron count has to be done by a machine unless you are really good at looking and being able to tell.
Now, us Cashmere growers really do not use the fiber that you are talking about. We trash the fiber that is on their neck, legs and the flank area because it is just to short.
I have a "what is Cashmere fiber"? on my web site if you would like to go read it. It is very helpful for those people that do not realize Cashmere comes for goats.
www.freewebs.com/sweetgoats

Carolyn · #5 01/08/08, 05:51 PM

I had a handful of cashmere goats. The girls were white, we brushed and got nice cashmere from them. Then my daughters found a beautiful black cashmere buck, but he was sooo wild, I never did get him tamed down enough to stand to be brushed. Cashmere comes from cashmere goats, mohair comes from angora goats and angora fiber comes from angora rabbit. I have a friend that spins beautiful yarns out of everything. She can take dog hair and it is beautiful... You might be able to use the fiber from your goats, but it won't be cashmere, unless it comes from a cashmere goat. OHH and separating the guard hairs is a pain. We only had small amounts of cashmere and to have it processed was (for us) not cost effective, so we hand picked out the guard hairs. Yep insane I know. Carolyn

Carolyn · #6 01/08/08, 05:56 PM

Ohh I enjoyed the website, I learned a lot. thank you for the info. Carolyn

chris30523 · #7 01/09/08, 06:09 AM

Thanks for the link Sweet Goats. The first goats I bought I was told were 1/4 cashmere 1/4 Boer and 1/2 Kiko. There were 12 does. Out of the 12 three of them produce fiber even in the heat here .I was wondering where the horns on a few of them came from also .Now I know. I don't gather the cashmere ,they do a good job of depositing it on the fence and trees. The birds love it for nests.

Sweet Goats · #8 01/09/08, 11:47 AM

Chris you are so right, the birds LOVE the fiber. I do lose some of the fiber to the fence, but I try to get it brushed out before they really state rubbing along the fence.
Carolyn. Yes i have a buck that is sometimes pretty nasty to comb. They are the hardest to do, but I have to halter him and tie him tight to a strong fence, and get it done. I do the same for the feet. But you get this guy in the show ring and he is such a sweet heart. I swear he knows people are looking at him (so he thinks), and he stands so proud. (OK, I have to say he has won best in show for three years in a row).

hoofinitnorth · #9 01/10/08, 02:15 PM

Someone locally was selling a starter herd of "cashmere goats". I have no idea what kind they really were. I got a photo and they all had horns so I passed.

RiverPines · #10 01/10/08, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoofinitnorth

Someone locally was selling a starter herd of "cashmere goats". I have no idea what kind they really were. I got a photo and they all had horns so I passed.

I personally would want the horns since its so much easier to harvest fiber if you have handles to help control the goat!

TedH71 · #11 01/10/08, 10:44 PM

No profit in cashmere espically in Texas from what I was told. Seems the industry is propped up by the government....