Goat Fiber Quality & Grading Guide
Fiber quality determines price. A pound of fine kid mohair can sell for three times what a pound of coarse adult mohair brings. Understanding how fiber is graded, what buyers look for, and how to improve your flock's fiber quality is essential for profitable fiber goat production.
Key Quality Metrics
Fiber diameter (micron count)
The single most important quality measurement. Finer fiber (lower micron count) is softer against the skin and commands higher prices. Fiber diameter is measured in microns (one micron = one millionth of a meter).
| Grade | Micron Range | Source | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super fine kid | Under 24 microns | First shearing (6 months old) | Extremely soft, almost cashmere-like |
| Fine kid | 24 to 26 microns | First and second shearing | Very soft |
| Fine young goat | 26 to 30 microns | Yearlings to 2-year-olds | Soft with good drape |
| Adult fine | 30 to 34 microns | Adult does, good genetics | Medium softness, versatile |
| Adult strong | 34 to 40 microns | Adult bucks, older goats | Coarser, better for rugs and outerwear |
| Cashmere | Under 19 microns | Cashmere undercoat | Extremely soft luxury fiber |
Fiber diameter increases with age in Angora goats. A doe that produces 26-micron fiber as a kid may produce 32-micron fiber by age 5. Genetics determine the rate of increase — breeding for fine fiber in adults is key.
Staple length
The length of the fiber lock from base to tip. For mohair shorn twice yearly, typical staple length is 4 to 6 inches. Longer staple (within reason) is preferred because it is easier to spin and process.
- Too short (under 3 inches): Difficult to spin, lower value. May indicate poor nutrition, parasites, or illness during the growth period.
- Ideal (4 to 6 inches): Good processing length for commercial mills and handspinners.
- Too long (over 8 inches): Can tangle and mat, especially in outdoor environments. Consider shearing more frequently if fiber grows this fast.
Luster
The natural sheen of mohair — one of its most distinctive and valuable properties. High-luster mohair reflects light beautifully and produces fabric with a characteristic glow. Luster is largely genetic and is the trait that distinguishes mohair from other fibers.
Lock structure
Mohair grows in defined locks (curly ringlets in Angora, varying by individual). Well-defined, uniform locks indicate healthy fiber growth. Flat, lifeless, or webby locks suggest nutritional deficiency or stress during the growth period.
Kemp
Kemp fibers are coarse, opaque, medullated (hollow) fibers that do not accept dye well. Kemp is undesirable in mohair because it creates white flecks in dyed fiber. Kemp content is genetic — breeding against kemp is important for improving flock quality.
Mohair Grade Classes
| Class | Description | Price Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Kid (1st clip) | First shearing, under 1 year. Finest, softest fiber. | Highest (100%) |
| Young goat | Second through fourth shearing. Still fine but beginning to coarsen. | High (70-85%) |
| Fine adult | Adult fiber under 30 microns. Premium genetics. | Medium-high (60-75%) |
| Adult | Standard adult fiber, 30 to 36 microns. | Medium (50-65%) |
| Strong adult | Coarser adult fiber, over 36 microns. Often from bucks. | Lower (30-50%) |
| Stained/defective | Urine-stained, heavily vegetable-contaminated, or matted. | Lowest (10-25%) |
Cashmere Quality
Cashmere grading is simpler than mohair because the key threshold is binary: is the fiber under 19 microns or not? If it is, it qualifies as cashmere. If not, it is guard hair.
- Fiber diameter: Must be under 19 microns to qualify as cashmere. Finer is more valuable — 15-micron cashmere is significantly more valuable than 18-micron.
- Down length: Minimum 1.25 inches for processing. Longer is better (up to about 3 inches).
- Guard hair content: The percentage of coarse guard hair mixed with the cashmere down. Lower is better. Combed cashmere has less guard hair than shorn cashmere.
- Color: White cashmere commands the highest price because it can be dyed any color. Brown, grey, and black cashmere are valued in the handspinner market for their natural colors.
Improving Fiber Quality
Genetics (long-term)
- Test fiber diameter annually (send samples to a fiber testing lab). Select breeding stock with the finest fiber for their age.
- Cull animals with excessive kemp, poor lock structure, or rapid micron increase with age.
- Buy bucks from lines that produce fine fiber into maturity, not just as kids.
Nutrition (immediate impact)
- Adequate protein (14 to 16% CP for Angoras in production) is essential for fiber growth. Mohair is 98% protein. Underfed goats produce less fiber and thinner fiber.
- Energy deficiency causes fiber weakness (thin spots in the staple that break during processing). Any period of nutritional stress during the growth period shows up as a weak spot in the fiber months later.
- Copper and zinc are particularly important for fiber quality and color.
Health and management
- Parasites reduce fiber production and quality. A goat fighting a parasite load diverts protein away from fiber growth to immune response.
- Any illness or stress creates a weak spot in the fiber at the point of growth during that period. Consistent health management produces consistent fiber.
- Keep goats clean. Vegetable matter (hay, straw, burs) embedded in the fleece downgrades fiber quality and requires expensive processing to remove.
- Use covered feeders that prevent hay from falling into fleeces.
Record fiber quality for every shearing
Herd Manager tracks shearing records with fiber weight, quality notes, and grade per goat. See which animals produce your best fiber and make informed breeding decisions for fleece improvement.
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