Sheep dominate the fibre industry worldwide, however goats produce two of the warmest and most luxurious fibres-cashmere and mohair. With New Zealand farmers looking for new ways to diversify, the goat fibre industry is a growing field with farmers from Marlborough to Wyndham venturing into goat fibre production, meaning fine fibre can be produced across the country, not limited to Merino suited areas.

Goats fit into many farming systems from beef finishing to extensive sheep properties. They’re browsers, meaning they like to eat what is often considered unproductive pastoral areas where sheep typically would not thrive. For some farms up to 10% extra stock units can be added as goats without reducing sheep or cattle numbers. Apart from high fibre returns, they can help control pasture weeds and scrub, improve clover cover and pasture utilisation by capital stock allowing faster growth rates. They can provide a valuable source of parasite refugia for sheep.

Cashmere production is highly heritable meaning crossing a feral doe and a cashmere buck is likely to produce a pure white cashmere kid (F1) that will shear close to 16 microns and 200-400g of fibre annuallyincredible genetic improvement in one generation. From here the yield and micron will improve over the generations.

Selective breeding means goats are hardier than they were when first farmed in the 1980s, and we know a lot more about their health issues and management. Internal parasites, lice, trace element and feet concerns all apply and can be managed. Dagging and crutching aren’t required and bearings and flystrike are very rare. The drenching schedule is similar to sheep, with kids regularly drenched and does/ bucks done once or twice yearly. Goats travel longer distances each day than sheep and move in mobs so lower stocking rates are preferred. Goat meat has no sex, age or carcase finish specifications and the schedule is fairly stable. Cull fibre goats can be processed at several meatworks.

A wide variety of farms can have profitable low input doe and wether flocks as part of their integrated cattle and sheep management plan. Your local vet can help discuss care and animal health planning for goats and work them into your overall farm plan.