Fiber goat breeds
Compare breeds recorded with fiber production as their primary purpose. Select a column heading to sort the table, then open a breed page for its sources and context.
| Breed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median of the 4 breeds listed here. | – | – | – | – | |
| Angora | Mohair | 12–35 lb | 20–40 micron | 4–6 in | 80–100 lb |
| Cashmere | Cashmere | – | up to 19 micron | 1.3 in or more | 75 lb or more |
| Nigora | Cashgora | – | – | 1–6 in | – |
| Pygora | Cashgora | 1–3 lb | 18.5–28 micron | 1–6 in | 75–120 lb |
Some breeds here have few published figures. An empty cell means we looked and didn't find it, not that the figure is zero. Each cell says what we checked.
Other breeds sometimes kept for fiber
Our records list fiber as a secondary use for these breeds. Open their breed pages for the supporting sources and context. They are not included in the comparison table or its medians.
Choose the fiber you want to work with
Angoras produce Mohair1. Cashmere is the fine down separated from coarser guard hair. Start with the product you want to harvest and process, rather than choosing only by the weight of a fleece.2
Pygoras have three recognized fleece types. Ask about the individual animal’s fleece as well as its breed, because the type changes the harvesting and preparation involved.3
Does fleece weight mean usable fiber?
Check whether a figure describes raw fleece or cleaned fiber. The Cashmere Goat Association defines total down weight after guard hair and other material have been removed. A larger raw fleece does not necessarily contain more usable down.2
The table also separates fiber diameter, staple length and body weight. Use those measures together and check the source context on each breed page. An empty yield cell is not zero output, and a group median does not establish which fiber will suit your project.
Compare harvesting and processing needs
Pygora Types A and B are usually shorn twice yearly, while Type C may be brushed, plucked or shorn. The association recommends dehairing all three types.3
Our assessment: before buying fiber goats, identify who will harvest and process the fleece and what preparation they require. Use the Angora guide for its shearing and shelter commitments, and the individual records to compare the other breeds.
Sources (3)
- The American Angora Goat Breeders Association Breed Standard For Angora Goats · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- North American Cashmere Goat Breed Standard, Cashmere Goat Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-13
- Pygora Fiber, Pygora Breeders Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-13