Cashmere wool comes from cashmere goats undercoat, which is extremely soft and downy. MFD can also be estimated by eye, and scored in either the 0-3 or Description columns. Reproductive System Does:Udder should be round with good suspension, and with two teats that are functional and symmetrical. For reference, a human hair is about 100 microns wide.All cashmere from Soft Goat grades between 15-19 microns. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Blood Stop Powder Goat Combing Video The lower the thickness, the softer the yarn will be. Uniformity is represented on the histogram as Coefficient of Variation (CV) and must be no greater than 24%. Our goats They can also be scored by eye, using a 0-3 score or descriptive score. PDF A Publication of - Cashmere Goat Association A slim-fitted garment has a tighter, closer fit than the regular fit. Legs should be straight, strong, well-muscled, and proportional to frame. This conformation trait is scored 0-3 or by Description in the same way that meat goats are scored. Gloves Style is defined as the crimp or curvature of the individual fibers, and is expressed as deg/mm (degrees of circular arc per mm). Contact us to learn more about the fine animals we have for sale. If the Download the GOAT app for reminders and exclusive promotions. Cashmere Goat Animal Facts - Animal Encyclopedia With Facts, Pictures Cashmere Goat Conservation Status Least Concern Cashmere Goat Locations Asia Europe North-America Oceania Cashmere Goat Facts Name Of Young Kid Group Behavior The term gauge (gg) is often used when describing knitted garments. Cashmere Down There is The Cashmere Goat Registry established to those Finer cashmere wool grades between 14-19 microns. Consistent Cover means that the cashmere that is grown at each harvest site is of the same type and quality. Fiber length is measured when the fiber is in a relaxed state. Since 1953 bush goats have been used for meat, through hunting or rounding up for slaughter. Cashmere wool is defined by the high quality and softness of the fiber found in the region of Kashmir. Grocery Bags It is very rare and constitutes less than 0.1% of global cashmere production. Back should be strong and straight from shoulder to rump. In 1994, China had an estimated population of 123 million goats and is the largest producer of cashmere down. She acquired Harry and David as three-month-old kids and immediately began training them. Bucks:Two testicles should be present, smooth and symmetrical, and of adequate size for age. [2], The Licheng Daqing goat is a dual-purpose breed from the Shanxi Province, China. We are members of the Cashmere Goat Association and members of Petersham Grange No. The D: G ratio is 1:1. GOAT: Sneakers, Apparel, Accessories Read all about ithere. Cashmere Goat: Care Guide, Varieties, Lifespan & More (with Pictures Our herd is CAE, CL and Johnes negative based on 2018 herd testing (our herd has been closed since our last round of testing). 31 Goat Breeds for Milk, Meat, & Fiber You'll Need on the Farm Chest should be wide, with ribs that are well-sprung, and with adequate girth in proportion to frame. But if down hair and guard hair are too similar in diameter, the dehairing machine cannot clearly tell the difference between them; the result is that either too much guard hair will go into the final product (porcupine yarn), or too much down will be damaged or lost as waste. Anything shorter than that would not qualify as North American Cashmere, as it would tend to pill when made into yarn, would be difficult to spin, and would also reduce the tensile strength of the yarn. Raising Cashmere Goats: Beginner's Guide for New Farmers - Boer Goat Two testicles are present that are correctly sized for age. The longer the fiber is, the better the quality. Farming Fur; Problems in the Industry; Buying the Real Deal; Farming Fur. Scrapie Tag: metal or plastic or Breed Registry Tattoo: if breed is registered with the USDA For movement into the state of Alabama, each animal is required to have the following: The FD histogram will also pick up the presence of the dreaded transitional fibers. These fibers are disastrous if found in any cashmere product (cashmere cancer), with diameters measuring somewhere between down and guard hair, usually in the 25 micron range. Email: mnielsen7@aol.com Since Cover is a trait that is important to the evaluation of the goats ability to produce a consistent quality of cashmere fiber, it is included in this NACG grading system as part of the FIBER score. ForequartersNeck should be well-proportioned to frame. I consent to Backyard Goats collecting and storing the data I submit in this form. If the show requires competition, however, with ribbons and awards (beyond the completed scorecards), this can still be done. today. First, cashmere should feel soft. (Dehorned is not a fault, and shall not be considered with prejudice). Long guard hair (low D:G Ratio) serves to protect the more fragile down fibers from sunlight and other environmental damage that can cause fiber breakage and shortening in the dehairing process. With the US Federal Government Scrapie requirements you must What is Cashmere? Sheath should be normally developed for age. Most common goat breeds, including . This goat would also have a low Cover score because although down growth might be. Your email address will not be published. Cashmere goat breeds are primarily raised for its production of cashmere wool or fiber. LIBERTY FARM CASHMERE GOATS: The History of the North American Cashmere Fiber diameter should exhibit minimal variation in a given sample or swatch, and transitional fibers should not be present. D:G Ratio can provide useful information related to the harvest of the down fleece, and also to the quality of the down: D:G ratio is related to %Yield, but it is not the same thing, and that is why it is described separately. Cashmere goats usually feed on grass pastures in the mountains where they are raised. 2:1). D:G ratio describes the length of down fiber (D) compared to the length of guard hair fiber (G). Mean style measurements on the fiber scan should be no less than 45 deg/mm. All four harvest sites on the individual goat (neck, shoulder, side, hip) should produce cashmere fiber, and the down coverage at each of these sites should be Complete and Consistent. It is important to understand the difference between % Yield and TDW. codes whenever entering animals in a competition. The Inner Mongolia cashmere goat is known to be a local, dual-purpose breed as it adapts well to semi-desert and desert pastures. Conservation Status: Not protected, considered a pest in unmanaged feral herds. Australian bush goats were found to possess unique genes that would present a loss in biodiversity should the population go extinct. people discuss herd codes somebody envisions surprises. No matter what happens to ribbons and awards, however, note that all goats who participate in shows that use this NACG grading system (not just the winners) can still leave the show ring with a complete evaluation and score on all 7 traits of FIBER and all 7 traits of CONFORMATION. Consistent Cover means that the cashmere that is grown at each site is of the same type and quality. From then on, North American cashmere goats were selected genetically to produce fine cashmere on good nutrition. Our Cashmere - High quality knitwear | Soft Goat American Cashmere Goats: A smaller fiber measurement (in microns) is associated with a finer fiber and a softer fleece, and a better (higher) score on the 0-3 scale. Why Is Cashmere So Expensive? - Animals The quality cashmere-producing goats know as the North American Cashmere goat have their foundation in the Spanish meat goat, interbred with Australian imports and cashmere-bearing dairy goats. Results are reported as deg/mm. A very crimpy fiber would have a lot of curvature and therefore more degrees of a circular arc (deg) along a measured millimeter (mm) of fiber length. score = 3.0 or Excellent). Nice Goat Feed (as a treat to keep them occupied) The goats can be divided into five strains, Alasan (Alashanzuoqi), Arbus, Erlangshan, Hanshan and Wuzhumuqin. . However, most breeds yield negligible quantities. They are easy to care for, very hardy, and usually kid on their own without any problems. Hardy, Dual-Purpose Goats for a Luxury Fiber. We will hold animals for delivery conveniences for 30 days with no additional charge. Hindquarter movement should be free and correct. While D:G Ratio is easily determined on the live goat, %Yield is determined from a harvested fleece. Rump should be broad, long, and well-muscled, with only a slight slope between hook bones and pin bones. Cashmere Goat Association North American Cashmere Goat Breed Standard Scrapie identification tag that you. Hairs of intermediate thickness are difficult to sort, and only suitable for the cashgora market. The undercoat is associated with guard hair, an outer coat of coarse hair that is present all year round. Quote: Goats provide good weed control, which is important in the context of chemical weed control and herbicide resistance, have good emissions efficiency (that is, kg methane per kg product) thus meeting our clean and green values, as well as providing cashmere fiber and capretto [kid meat]. University of Western Australia. There are certain horn configurations however, that are truly dangerous and should be disqualified (i.e. A goat might weigh 180 lbs. When viewed from the side, upper and lower biting structures should be symmetrical. , C M U x : , 7 / 3 v h|) hH 0J CJ aJ h CJ aJ h|) hH 0J CJ aJ h|) hH CJ aJ ' , , 6 G M x , / v [$ \$ gd|) The down is produced by secondary follicles, the guard hair by the primary follicles.[1]. In 1788 the First Fleet of British penal colony settlers landed in Botany Bay with goats on board. Represented as Total Down Weight (TDW), it is measured after cleaning and processing, andshould be no less than 2 ounces (60 grams). [1] This undercoat grows as the day length shortens and is associated with an outer coat of coarse hair, which is present all the year and is called guard hair. Two (only two) undeveloped teats are present. This goat would have a low Cover score, because down growth is not, A goat might grow down on all four harvest sites, but the growth on the neck is more coarse and less stylish than the down on the other sites (possibly cashgora), and is therefore of lesser quality than down growth at the other sites. While D:G Ratio is based on length, %Yield is based on weight. In the year 1994, China was known to be the largest producer of cashmere down, with an estimated population of 123 million goats. in September), it is generally more useful to know the age of the fleece than the age of the goat. The first three strains produce quality cashmere; the last two have been developed for high production. Any split in the scrotum should extend no more than one third total scrotal length. Here we demonstrate how we comb our cashmere goats. Forequarter movement should be free and correct. It is very important to know who you are buying cashmere goats from and what kind of goats they raise. A good test when checking the quality of a cashmere garment, is to examine it while holding it up towards the light. Lead photo by Paul Esson/Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0. CONFORMATION traits are certainly important to meat production, but their importance is not limited to the meat market. In 1972, the Australian Government Research body CSIRO noticed that some of the herd at Brewarrina, NSW, grew a thick down, and they studied its quality. The average cashmere production for males is 380 grams; adult female is 290 grams with fibers averaging 16.0-16.5 microns in diameter[9], The Zhongwei goat originated in the semidesert and desert area around Zhongwei in Ningxia and Gansu Provinces in China, and are famous for their kid fur and cashmere production. The production varies from herd to herd, with the most productive herds averaging 250 grams at a diameter of 15m. By Mickey Nielsen, Liberty Farm Cashmere and The Cashmere Goat Registry 2012. Fine cashmere fibers range from 28 mm to 40 mm. Cashmere Goats Hips, hocks, and pasterns should be correctly angled and strong. Webinars are held throughout the year. About one million bush goats are processed for meat per year. Upcoming Events - The American Goat Federation To be more specific, it is precisely the wool from the undercoat, the area closest to the skin of the goat. The goats are mostly badger and white colored, both of which produce cream-colored cashmere fiber. Legs should be strong, well-muscled, and well-proportioned to frame. 2. The herd has been continually developed since then, and used to improve the cashmere herd throughout China. Five million were in Tibet Autonomous Region, 1 million in Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in Sichuan, half a million in Qinghai and about 100,000 in Gansu. http://cashmeregoatregistry.blogspot.com/, Matthew 8:20 "birds of the air have nest", Goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. Cover should be both complete and consistent. Their fur is soft and warm, but their rarity and slow growth rate is one reason why Cashmere is so expensive. Cashmere goats are dual purpose animals raised for their luxurious cashmere and delicious meat. Note that the method of harvest (shear vs comb) is generally the primary factor in determining %Yield. According to science and other established research studies, the Inner Mongolia cashmere goats can be divided into five strains Wuzhumuqin, Alasan, Hanshan, Erlangshan and Arbus. Fiber length is measured when the fiber is in a relaxed state. Cashmere goats are dual purpose animals raised for their luxurious cashmere and delicious meat. Our yaks . %Yield can be related to D:G Ratio, but it is not the same thing, and that is why it is described separately. A plain knitted garment is most often knitted in 7 or 12 gg. Productivity: Varies with herd, conditions, and individual, averaging four ounces of fiber per year (114g). Note that high numbers (e.g. The University of Western Australia is currently running a sire referencing scheme for active development of the Australian cashmere goat breed. The Hexi cashmere can be found in the Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia provinces. Although American Cashmere goats are considered rare, the herd in North America continues to grow. Earlier European explorers may have also left on-board livestock when shipwrecked or landing on Australian shores, in the same way that Arapawa goats and Hawaiian ibex goats colonized those islands. So ideal body weight is the actual scale weight (live body weight), adjusted up or down (to ideal body weight), by subtracting the estimated extra body weight on the animal due to obesity, or adding the estimated lost body weight due to management issues. History: In the early nineteenth century, cross-bred Angora/Cashmere goats were imported to New South Wales (NSW) to improve the fleeces of local bush goats. My prices might seem high in comparison to o thers, but when you take into consideration all the hours that go into creating these, they are a bargain! This makes the garment warmer and more durable. The Hexi cashmere goat has a long lineage in the semi desert and desert regions of the Gansu province in China. North America is where Pieh and her husband, Peter Goth, come in. The fabric is not like other types of wool and should not feel itchy against your skin. [2], The Inner Mongolia cashmere goat is a local dual-purpose breed with a long history. It adapts well to desert and semidesert pastures. PDF Travel Requirements for Show Goats - Alabama Required fields are marked *. The North American Cashmere Goat grading system described here (Figure 1) reflects the North American Cashmere Goat (NACG) as a dual-purpose animal, providing both fiber and meat products, with relative market values currently defined as: FIBER 50% and CONFORMATION 50%. Sturdy, strong, well muscled, and well proportioned. We couldn't register your email. Cashmere goat The average Cashmere goat produces 4-6 ounces of cashmere per year and it takes about 16 ounces of cashmere to make a sweater. Remember that cashmere is soft because it is 19.0 microns or less, and the fine individual fibers will bend when they contact skin. North American Cashmere Goats almost always have beautiful heads and horns, and most of them score high (i.e. Estimated %Yield is 25% (this is a typical %Yield on a shorn fleece with medium length guard hair, or a D:G Ratio of 1:1, with minimal dirt, chaff and other impurities). Coloring: Solid colors and white are most desirable. For eighteen plus years Marilyn Burbank has freely given of The presence or absence of wattles is essentially a cosmetic issue that might be important to some breeders, but not to others. The fleece of the cashmere goat is composed of two kinds of fiber the guard hair and the cashmere itself. Cashmere a word that has denoted luxury and comfort since the most ancient times. Fiber must be fine, with a histogram MFD of 18.5 microns or less. Hindquarter movement should be free and correct. 2020 Travel requirements for show goats: For movement within the state of Alabama, each animal is required to have official identification. Fiber must be fine, with a histogram MFD of 19 microns or less. provide a quick and efficient way of identifying animals in relation to their The herd book of The Cashmere Goat Registry will remain permanently open to any individual goat which adequately demonstrates its ability to reproduce in kind, in accordance with the breed standards and The Cashmere Goat Registry requirements. The quality of the cashmere fleece is determined by three factors: its length, its diameter, and the degree of crimping. NORTH AMERICAN CASHMERE GOAT GRADING SYSTEM. They are valued for their fine fibered coats, which is often considered the finest wool in the world! Every summer, American Cashmere goats begin to grow new coats of cashmere. her time and effort to maintain the Cashmere Herd Codes carefully checking new and Selvaraj, O.S., 2001. A micron is equal to one-millionth of a meter. And the Cashmere goats are raised for this cashmere wool (the goat's fine, soft, downy, winter undercoat). Registry Tattoos Approved for Use as Official ID for the Scrapie - USDA Scissors Latex Gloves FeetHooves should be sturdy, broad, well-formed, and proportional to frame. Horns are desirable as they dissipate heat during hot weather, which is important when growing a thick fleece. Some of these later escaped or were abandoned when produce markets were low. (Privacy Policy) *, 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved. Assuming that the amount of vegetable matter, dust, and other foreign material is constant, a typical Yield on a shorn fleece with medium guard hair length (D:G Ratio of 1:1) is about 25%. 2.8) are always better than low numbers (e.g. The fleece of Cashmere goats is made up of two distinct fibers. Fiber length is measured in its relaxed (crimpy) state, and must be no less than 1.25 inches (32 mm). A goat whose down fiber extends beyond the guard hair, would have a D:G ratio that is greater that 1:1 (e.g. For example, if the NACG industry requires more attention to fiber quality and production, and less attention to meat production, that ratio might in the future be changed to something like: FIBER 60% and CONFORMATION 40%. The undercoat of the cashmere goat breeds grows as the day length becomes shorter. While this might sound easy, experts sometimes disagree about what is normal and what is significant regarding deformities. This conformation trait is scored 0-3 or by Description in the same way that meat goats are scored. A chunky knit garment is made with lower gauge and gives it a thicker and heavier texture. Short guard hair (high D:G Ratio) usually cannot protect the fragile down as effectively as long guard hair, and the method of harvest (shear vs comb) has little effect on down quality. In 1994, the total Inner Mongolian goat population was approximately 2.3 million goats. The hair can be solid colored or combinations of colors, with solid colors much preferred. An objective measurement of Uniformity is expressed as the Coefficient of Variation (CV) of the fiber diameter measurements, and seen also in the shape of the plotted histogram. Shoulders, knees, and pasterns should be correctly angled and strong. Soft Goats cashmere garments are knitted in 3gg, 5 gg, 7 gg, 12 gg, 14 gg or 16 gg. A split scrotum is a finding of uncertain significance, and until more evidence-based data is available, no points are deducted for small splits that involve 1/3 of the scrotum or less. In this NACG grading system, however, 28 mm (1.25 inches) is the lower limit of the scale that defines North American Cashmere. On the other hand, 1 ounce of cashmere will make a very warm and lightweight scarf. In the United States, high quality cashmere may sell for 40 dollars per pound! Hidden Brook is currently home to a growing herd of North American Cashmere Goats, including breeding does, wethers, and several junior and senior bucks. The term gauge (gg) is often used when describing knitted garments. Local breeds and animals are known to be dominant. Hindquarter movement should be free and correct. Cashmere is the soft down of the goat that grows beneath the guard hair. Note that the sometimes loosely used term consistency, as it relates to fiber diameter measurements in a specific small fleece sample (swatch), is defined in the NACG grading system as Uniformity, and is evaluated as the Uniformity component of the FIBER score. CGA Cashmere Goat Database and Registry - Cashmere Goat Association / / / / / C C C C O C * [ [ [ [ [ 6 6 6 $ / 6 6 6 6 6 / / [ [ 6 Good teeth are important to the health of any browsing animal, who regularly forages on very rough material. A tight histogram indicates that most of the fiber diameter measurements are close to the mean, so the sample would have a small CV and the Uniformity score would be high. From the time each day, twice a day, 365 days a year, no exceptions, it takes to feed and care for . The fine, soft fiber we associate with expensive sweaters and scarves is the down undercoat of cashmere goats. Barker, J.S.F., Tan, S.G., Moore, S.S., Mukherjee, T.K., Matheson, J.L. This bloodline produces the finest Cashmere with an average diameter between 12-13 m and average fiber length between 55-60mm. Just dont expect cashmere goats to supply the high need for meat and milk unlike its other goat counterparts. Cashmere down fiber should be fine, as defined by Mean Fiber Diameter (MFD), and should also have a uniform pattern of fiber diameter, defined in this grading system as Uniformity. Vulva should be normally developed for age. The CGA launched a database for cashmere goats in 2019 that also serves as a registry for goats meeting the qualifications for North American Cashmere Goats. Cashmere Goat Characteristics Inner Mongolia cashmere goat