How much does a cashmere goat cost? Breeds and methods to increase cashmere yield

The cashmere goat is a unique biological resource in China, developed through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding, and is currently the breed with the highest cashmere yield and the best cashmere fiber quality in the world. So, what is the current market price of a cashmere goat? What breeds are there? How can cashmere yield be increased?

I. What is the current market price of a cashmere goat?

The market price of cashmere goats varies according to breed, age in months, and region. Generally, ordinary goats cost between 350 and 1000 yuan, while breeding goats are generally between 1500 and 2000 yuan (depending on whether male or female). A purebred male goat can reach about 350 jin, and a female goat can reach about 300 jin. The price of original breeding rams ranges from 5000 to 10000 yuan, and pregnant ewes with kids are generally between 1500 and 1800 yuan.

II. What breeds are there?

China is rich in cashmere goat breed resources, mainly including Liaoning cashmere goat, Jinlan cashmere goat, Inner Mongolia cashmere goat (Inner Mongolia Erlangshan goat, Inner Mongolia Alxa Left Banner white cashmere goat, Inner Mongolia Arbas white cashmere goat), Hexi cashmere goat, Tibet cashmere goat, Sichuan cashmere goat, Shandong cashmere goat and more than 30 purebred breeds. In addition, China also has a large number of crossbred improved breeds, new goat breeds developed through methods such as multiple crossbreeding, selective intercrossing and inbreeding of local goat breeds with relatively good production performance. For example, the Longdong white cashmere goat is a new breed bred by crossing the Longdong black goat as the female parent and the Liaoning cashmere goat as the male parent.

III. How can cashmere yield be increased?

1. When forming groups, try to select purebred goats or goats with heterosis.

2. Generally speaking, breeding rams and wethers have the highest cashmere yield, young goats come next, and multiparous ewes have the lowest, so in the group structure, wethers should account for an appropriately high proportion.

3. After entering winter and spring, strengthen the feeding and management of cashmere goats, pay attention to feeding compound feed, silage forage, etc., so that protein feed in the daily ration is not less than 13%, and crude fiber is not less than 20%. Among minerals, pay attention to supplementing calcium, phosphorus and sulfur. In particular, sulfur is an indispensable substance for forming cashmere, and sufficient sulfur plays an important role in improving cashmere yield and quality.

4. Change the feeding method in a timely manner. When pastoral areas enter winter, after most sheep have conceived, it is best to use complete barn feeding and confinement. After late spring of the following year, when kidding is finished and cashmere combing is completed, then switch to grazing. This can avoid cashmere being torn off during the cashmere production period and also improve the survival rate of lambs.

5. Regular medicated baths to prevent external parasitic diseases (such as sarcoptic mange) are also one of the essential measures to increase cashmere yield.