Bush Goats in Australia
Goats first came to Australia with the first fleet in 1788 and were used by the early settlers, railway construction crews and miners for milk and meat. A goat fibre industry was developed by importing Cashmere goats to Australia from the 1830’s to its collapse in the 1920’s. At this time many of the goats were turned out into the bush to join other goats that were already there. By 1972 when cashmere was rediscovered on the Bush goats by a CSIRO research team, these animals were well and truly acclimatized to the Australian environment.
The Development of the Australian Cashmere Goat
By the late 1970’s a number of breeders, encouraged by Dawsons International PLC, Scotland; then the worlds largest cashmere processors, decided to develop an Australian Cashmere Goat. They selected Cashmere bearing bush goats. These goats were typically producing 40 to 60 grams of cashmere down. Objective measurements and thorough record keeping focusing on fibre production, fibre quality while retaining the strong constitution of the bush goats has seen the development of the Australian Cashmere Goat.
Australian Cashmere Goats
The Australian Cashmere Goat has come a long way in the last 40 years due largely to the dedication of breeders in Australia. Today the heaviest cutting Cashmere goats produce over 1kg of Cashmere Down. They are farmed in a wide range of environments from cold regions such as Tasmania, Victoria to Arid regions such as South Australia and Western Australia to Hot regions such as Northern NSW and Queensland. The Australian Cashmere Goat thrives and is productive in all these environments.
Australian Cashmeres-
Sustainable Livestock Farming
Australian Cashmere is a renewable resource with the fleece being harvested once a year.
Australian Cashmeres are free range animals that can be used to advantage to clear areas of weeds without the use of costly, hazardous chemicals.
The Australian Cashmere Goat’s dietary preference for the weeds rejected by other livestock species, leads to pasture improvement, more nitrogen fixing plants and healthier soils.
The Australian Cashmere Goat
Fertility. Australian Cashmere goats are very fertile and quite prolific. A mature buck in good condition can serve 80 – 100 does. Bucks mature at an early age, so either need to be castrated or removed from their mothers by 12 weeks.
Australian Cashmere does make excellent, protective mothers, are good milkers, have multiple births and if they have the right nutritional requirements, are capable of rearing two or more kids at a time.
Cashmere Goats are intelligent, inquisitive and playful. They are frequently long lived, whilst still being productive.
Low Cost Production as there is no need to crutch, mules or jet, nor is there a need for constant surveillance for months each year for fly strike.
Benefits of Farming Australian Cashmere Goats
Cashmere Goats are suitable for farming in most areas of Australia.
Australian Cashmeres are suitable livestock for both small farms and large broadacre farming.
The demand for all types of Cashmere continues to increase, whilst world production is declining and the price for Cashmere increasing.
Due to the fact that Cashmeres choose a different portion of the feed available, other enterprises benefit from the pasture made possible with the addition of Cashmere Goats. They can be a lucrative addition to core farm businesses, with good returns for both meat as well as fibre.
After years of domestication, farming Australian Cashmeres is not dissimilar to farming and handling crossbred sheep.
