The goat “HIRCUS ENGAGRUS”, descendant of the goat “FALCONERI” is famous for the product obtained from its fleece, called “tiflit” or “duvet” and is the Cashmere goat.

The animals are of a medium size, with a height from the withers of about 60 centimetres and the male goat weighs around 60 kilos whilst the female weighs 35 kilos.

They possess a small head, erect ears and well developed horns bent outwards, which in adult males become majestic.

The animals produce a fleece of long, coarse hairs but upon further scrutiny, particularly on the underside, the fleece is extremely soft and almost silky; the famous “duvet” that can be turned into cashmere as we know it.

In May, during the moulting season, the shepherds round the herds up for the harvesting of the fibre. The goat’s legs are tied and once the animal is laid down on a cover the shepherds begin the combing.

The task is carried out with combs resembling small rakes; they have 16 hooks and pointed teeth.

A large comb is used, followed by a finer one. The animal is combed all over with energetic movements, starting at the back and finishing with the ears and legs.

The job lasts about 30 minutes for each animal.
The product obtained is a mix of duvet and ordinary hair and is collected in bags generally made out of polypropylene or jute.

On average a male “HIRCUS” goat yields 300 to 350 grams of grizzly, the female 200 to 250 grams and geldings yield 400 to 450 grams. Exceptional cases can yield up to 700 grams.

Lambs are not shorn until they are a year old, the best quality duvet can be obtained until the age of four and in successive years the goats’ duvet, which lessens, is of a more ordinary quality. They are long-living animals, living to fifteen or sixteen years old and a female can be expected to bear five or six kids.

The goats can be kept in small groups up to just over 1,000, depending upon the wealth of the shepherd, in fact in Outer Mongolia the wealth of an individual is measured by the number of animals in his possession.

A prosperous family owns at least 250 goats, which yield around 70 kilos of grizzly, which is sufficient to guarantee the means to live for a whole family.

30% of Mongolian shepherds own at least 100 goats, which represents the poverty threshold and only a few farms have more than 500 goats. It is said that the richest man in Outer Mongolia has 5,000 ovine and bovine cattle. It is incredible to think of these modest people whose very existence relies on the product yielded by their animals.

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