Although sheep are often associated with wool production, some of the most extravagant fibers are produced by fiber goats. They include mohair from Angora goats and cashmere from many breeds of goats. Cashmere is a fiber in demand for its soft and warm characteristics.
It is from the undercoat and is combed off the goat. White, brown or gray solid colored goats are preferred over mixed colored goats. The long fibers are used in knitted garments. Shorter cashmere fibers go into woven fabrics.
Goat Fibers Are Renewable and Biodegradable
All-natural fibers are biodegradable and fully compostable, while acrylics and other synthetic materials aren’t. Fiber goats—just like sheep, alpacas, etc.—grow a new coat every year. Keepers need to sheer these fibers from the animals to keep them healthy.
Savvy clothing designers ignore the misinformation stating otherwise. They’re aware of the benefits of utilizing natural fibers and continue to purchase materials from farms with ethical husbandry practices.
Shearing and Combing
With some breeds,types/classifications, and crossbreeds of fiber goats you will shear your animal once to twice a year while with others, they will require periodic combing throughout the year. It is important to know which category your goat falls into, which can be found out by visiting your breed association web page or by talking to a leader or local breeder.
Once combed or sheared you should clean the fiber of any debris, such as guard hairs, hay, or thistles which can lower the quality and value of the fiber. After combing or shearing and cleaning of the fiber, it should be kept in a cool, dry location to prevent molding or any other event that could damage or lower its quality.