Tag Archive

Iceland’s Native Goats Rebounding

By Martha Ann

THINGEYJARSVEIT, Iceland — Vilhjalmur Grimsson and a handful of his fellow farmers are credited with bringing the Icelandic goat back from the edge of extinction in their native land. Grimsson’s goats, several of which are shown here, will spend the summer in the mountains and remain there until the first snowfall of autumn. His 12 does... »

Oh, To Be In England…

By Martha Ann

Mother and child at Devon Fine Fibers — 145 acres of English pasture and ancient woodland in mid Devon on the southern edge of Exmoor. “We have some of the most wonderful wildlife with red deer, otters, badgers, ravens, dormice and more birds, wild flowers and rare lichens,” said Lesley, whose principle business is... »

For Fiber Fans

By NJ

Fiber Addict AKA Sister Sword of Desirable Mindfulness blogs over on livejournal. Her topics? Fiber, self-sufficiency, fiber and goats. Oh, and fiber. What’s interesting about her blog, beyond the wealth of knowledge about fiber, is she’s very interactive with her reader. Post a question, she’ll answer it. Her passion for fiber is obvious in everything... »

Spinning Pygora Fleece

By NJ

Of the many spinning projects Hellchick has done the past year, spinning the fleece of pygora goats from Jody at Fleece Fields proved to be challenging. “Goat fiber typically has guard hairs in it that, if not picked out before spinning, can make a yarn go from cashmere-soft to feeling like steel wool,” she writes.  Picking... »

Shearing Pygora Goats

By NJ

Pygora goats, a Pygmy-Angora cross breed, are well known for their cashmere like fiber. In order to process the wool, the goat must first be sheared. Doityourself offers a video showing how the procedure is done. The video shows Patti the Garden Girl, from farmersalmanactv.com, doing a quick hoof trim and demonstration of how to shear a Pygora using... »

All Things Cashmere

By Martha Ann

Joe David Ross, of Cashmere America, talks here about the export potential and marketing outlook for goat fiber. Cashmere America, a cooperative of cashmere producers from Maine to Canada, formed in 1991 to establish high and consistent grading standards for cashmere fiber, known for its remarkable softness and warmth. Ross, in his lecture at Langston University,... »

Angora goats helping diabetics

By Martha Ann

A South African mohair processor plans to use 30 tons of fine mohair a year to make socks to aid diabetics worldwide. The Medi Sock uses mohair’s natural elasticity and high absorption rate to improve circulation and draw moisture away from the foot, said Denys Hobson, chief executive of Cape Mohair. “These are the fantastic... »

Great Angora Goat Giveaway

By Martha Ann

UPDATE: The Fiber Farm flock has arrived at their new home at Gilead Goats, where they’ve posted photos of the big day. The goats look strong, healthy and loved. =================== UPDATE: Fiber Farm has picked the winner of its Sand Creek run-in shed and some of their Angora goats. =================== Fiber Farm is giving away a small hand-spinner’s... »

Cashmere Hot Water Bottle Cover

By Martha Ann

TIVERTON, England — Leslie at Devon Fine Fibers is experimenting with cashmere water bottle covers with fiber from some of her 250 goats and sheep on her 145 acres in mid Devon. »

Cloning Pashmina Goats

By Martha Ann

India’s National Dairy Research Institute plans to clone a rare Pashmina goat as part of its program to preserve species on the verge of extinction. “After we achieved success in cloning of buffalo, our scientists thought of undertaking the project that will help enhance production of this finest quality (Pashmina) wool,” the institute’s director, A.K.... »

Cashmere Goats: Mongolia

By Martha Ann

Mongolian goat farmers have seen the price of Cashmere plunge after years of high prices driven by the West’s seemingly insatiable desire for luxury. Many of the farmers, including Dalantai Khatanbaatar, have taken out loans to get by but can’t pay them back without selling the livestock that sustains them in the first place. Like 40... »

Cashmere Goats: Maine

By Martha Ann

Layne, who blogs at Trees Life In Too Much Detail, tends these gorgeous beasts in Mid-Coast Maine, where there’s 37 in the main herd. Eds. Note: Horns are hell, but they certainly are magnificent looking aren’t they. »

Goats denude Mongolia

By Martha Ann

Mongolia’s cashmere market bottomed out in the global recession but not before taking an environmental toll on the fabled steppes occupied for centuries by nomadic herders. The boom years for cashmere saw Mongolia’s goat population rise from an estimated 25 million in 1993 to 40 million in 2007, when the market began to soften. That... »

Recession dampens Angora sale

By Martha Ann

SONORA, Texas — The sour economy was blamed for significantly lower prices at this year’s Angora performance sale at the Texas AgriLife Research Station. The sale raised $4,725 compared with $12,775 last year, AgriLife geneticist Dan Waldron said. “Mohair is a luxury item sold on a world market and when economies sour here and elsewhere, so... »

All Things Goat was created by Naimhe Jeanne (Nee-Vah Jeen,) of Illinois, and Martha Ann, of Vermont, who believe in the humane treatment of goats whether they are pets or raised for milk, meat or fiber. Through news, profiles, recipes and editorials, All Things Goat illustrates how our caprine friends improve the quality of life for many worldwide. Our All Things Goat intern is Lela Perez, of Killeen, Texas.

2009 Alpine National Champion

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Happy Goat Caramels

Happy1 Happy Goat Caramels are sweet, savory and made from the milk of California goats grazed on pesticide-free grass.

2009 Saanen Jr. Champion Doe