Progress in the uitilization and promotion of South African indigenous goats for cashmere production

Abstract

A large number of indigenous goats posses two distinct coats, soft, fine undercoat (cashmere) and a coarse overcoat (guard hair the down fibre length and yield need to be improved by following an upgrading programme in order to lead to a viable cashmere industry in South Africa This could lead to the diversification of existing agriculture resources without a large capital outlay, creating additional income for small goat farmers and a opportunity for beneficiation and small agro- industries. Utilization of the fibres as an addition source of income would make the goat flocks more profitable Cashmere production is labour intensive and ideally suited for farmers with small number of goats Supports rural and economic development