History of Cashmere
The North American Cashmere goat was originally imported into the US in the 1980's from Australia and New Zealand. These goats were crossbred with feral Spanish goats, and cashmere bearing milk goats, to create a unique breed that is adapted to the North American environment and bears a heavy cashmere fleece. Since the 1980's these goats have been selectively bred to enhance their fiber qualities and increase fineness, crimp, length and cover.
What is cashmere?
Cashmere is a natural fiber produced by all goats. Cashmere goats have been selectively bred to produce this fiber in large quantities. It is considered a luxury fiber, as even high production goats typically only grow 5 to 10 oz of it per year. A goat's fiber is considered cashmere if it is below 19 microns in diameter and is at least an inch and a quarter long.
Cashmere Quality Standards
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The quality of the cashmere fleece is determined by three factors: its length, its diameter, and the degree of crimping. The American cashmere industry promotes high standards for raising good, healthy animals bearing exceptionally good cashmere fiber. The Cashmere Goat Association has also defined a standard for a breed, identified as the North American Cashmere Goat. |
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Cashmere fiber is crimped (rather than wavy), soft, and lacking luster. By industry standards, it must be at least 1-1/4′ long with an average diameter less than 19 microns. A micron is one-millionth of a meter (a meter is about a yard), so each fiber is very, very fine. For comparison, a human hair can range from 17 to 18 microns in diameter. The crimpiness of the fiber gives it “loft” and enables garments made of cashmere to provide warmth without weight.
Harvesting Cashmere
Cashmere goats naturally shed their cashmere each year once around spring time. Cashmere farmers can collect this fiber by combing the goats, or by shearing them. If left to its own device's cashmere will naturally mat and shed from the goat.