[PACE]

I think fiber goats are so neat, and I'm interested in learning more about them. I hear people talking about mohair, cashmere, etc. and don't get the difference....

so my questions are

1) What exactly is cahsmere?

2)and what is mohair?

3) I have heard any goat can produce cashmere... is this true?

4) Are there special cashmere goats? Like a breed called cashmere goats?

5) Do angora goats produce cashmere, mohair, neither... both?

6) Do you shear a goat to get the fiber, or do you comb it out while they are shedding?

7) how many fiber breeds are out there?

If there is anything ele anyone would like to add, I'd love to hear it

 

[Sara]

I think fiber goats are so neat, and I'm interested in learning more about them. I hear people talking about mohair, cashmere, etc. and don't get the difference....

so my questions are

1) What exactly is cahsmere?

2)and what is mohair?

3) I have heard any goat can produce cashmere... is this true?

4) Are there special cashmere goats? Like a breed called cashmere goats?

5) Do angora goats produce cashmere, mohair, neither... both?

6) Do you shear a goat to get the fiber, or do you comb it out while they are shedding?

7) how many fiber breeds are out there?

If there is anything ele anyone would like to add, I'd love to hear it

1. Cashmere is the fiber from a cashmere goat, like the stuff in your chasmere sweater.

2. Mohair is the fiber from Angora goats, Angora Rabbit Fiber is called Angora

3. I don't know. :lol:

4. Yes I'm pretty sure there is a breed called Cashmere Goats

5. Angora goats produce Mohair

6. You can do both but combing takes more time.

7. I think there are Angoras, Cashmere's, and Pygoras. But there might be more.
7.

 

[PACE]

Thanks! I guess it just goes to show how little I know about fiber goats, but I'm learning!

 

[goathappy]

3. yes, but only to some extent, so not really. With Cashmere goats, they judge the fiber by how many microns per inch or cm, I'm not sure. Wish Sweet Goats was here, she should tell you more. I can tell you that as a cashmere goat gets older, the more primary(non fiber producing, like hair regular goats have) hairs they get and the more the quality of the fleece goes down.
6. Angoras I'm pretty sure you shear them and cashmeres I think you comb them out when they shed.
I did a lot of research on cashmeres, it was a pipe dream of mine

 

[jBlaze]

pygoras!

Pygora goats are a newer breed, from crossing an angora and a pygmy. Pygmy goats have a cashmere type undercoat, and are very hardy animals. The cross between the two breeds is a really terrific combination. The fleece can vary between animals from an A type fleece, which is closer to angora, and C type which is more cashmere, a B type has properties of both, very lovely. All are very desirable.

The pygora breed standard says the cross should involve a white angora, but because many people like more color, PCA is another registry that accepts crosses from colored angoras, as long as parents are registered. I have also heard of fiber crosses such as pycazz.

We are up to 9 pygoras now, 2 bucks, 2 wethers, and 5 does. I am excited to see what colors of babies we will get!

 

[PACE]

Thanks for all the information! I've seen pictures of pygoras before. They are really cute

What does A type, B type, and C type fleece mean? Does it have to do with the coarseness or micro something???

 

[jBlaze]

The microns play a part, but I think it is more how it feels to the touch, either warm or silky.

From the PBA site: (they have pictures uf the fiber types also.)


Type A is a long fiber, averaging 6+ inches in length. It drapes in long lustrous ringlets. It may be a single coat, but a silky guard hair is usually present. The fiber is very fine, mohair-like, usually less than 28 microns. The handle should be silky, smooth and cool to the touch.
Type B is a fiber with characteristics of both mohair type and cashmere type fleece. It’s usually curly and should average 3 to 6 inches in length. There is an obvious guard hair. A second silky guard hair is also usually present. There should be luster and the handle should be soft and airy. The fiber should test, on average, below 24 microns. The fleece color is usually lighter than the guard hair color.
Type C is a very fine fiber, usually below 18.5 microns, and can be acceptable as commercial cashmere. It must be a least 1 inch long and is usually between 1 to 3 inches. It has a matte finish and a warm, creamy handle. It must show crimp. There is good separation between a coarse guard hair and fleece. The fleece color is usually lighter than the guard hair color.

 

[alyssa_romine]

I have a myotonic buck that has Cashmere, it is VERY soft!!!

 

[sweetgoats]

Hello all,
Hey thats for thinking about fiber goats. Most people never even think about them.
GoatHappy, I am here now, thats

Cashmere is a fiber that is from a goat that has a Micron count between 14.5 and 19.5 diameter and is 1" long. Anything higher then that is a Cashgora and below, well I do not know.
ANY goat can produce a cashmere type fiber. It is a VERY soft and fine fiber but it is not the TRUE cashmere because of the length and the Micron count. That is why Cashmere goats are a type of goat not a breed..
GoatHappy, you have it pretty close, it is Microns (diameter, not length).
They have 4 types of goats that produce fiber, True fiber.
Cashmere (Cashmere of course). Cashmere goats can be sheered or combed with a dog undercoat comb. We comb all ours. If you sheer them then you get all the guard hair in it and it costs a LOT more to get it cleaned and dehaired. I LOVE that time of year. That is the time I get to re bond with the goats, and really pamper them one on one. My goats in the winter really do not like to be messed with. I assume it is because they are pregnant and all. Now once they have the babies then they are like puppy dogs.
Angora (Mohair, like Sara said) If you have a Mohair sweater, that is from goat. If your Mohair sweater is not soft then you got a sweater that was made with not the best Mohair.
Cashgora That is a Cashmere/Angora bred together. That is the treat Cashgora. Now if you have a Cashmere that is older and the fiber Micron count goes up it becomes Cahmgora, even thought the goat is a cashmere.
Pygora, that is a Pygmy and a Angora. Yes like jBlaze said.
Now I am sorry, I can not believe anyone would breed a Pygora and a Cashmere. That is getting WAY to many types of fiber in the mix. Now I am not saying that it can not or would not happen. we all know how those bucks are.

Sorry, can you all tell I LOVE toa talk about fiber goats? I just love them all to death.
.

 

[tamarack]

hi....I have a bunch of cashmere producing goats. are all your questions answered? or have you some more? if so, I'll do my best to help answer them.
Ann
South Vienna, Ohio