Changthangi Goat Breed – Everything You Need to Know

These hardy goats are very strong and active. They have been known to be able to survive very well in extreme temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

These goats are top cashmere producing goats, but they are not very big breeders and only have one kid per litter. They do not mind human intervention and can be quite calm, patient and friendly if they are raised properly.

Changthangi Quick Profile Overview

The Pashmina goat as it is sometimes known called such for its valuable cashmere wool it produces that is used in the production of the well known Pashmina scarves
Country of Origin:	India
Other Names:	Changra Goat or Pashmina goat
Breed Size:	Medium
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Main Purpose:	Cashmere wool and meat
Can be used for	Breeding, Fiber, Meat
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Temperament:	They are strong and active very inquisitive but also free spirited
Good with Kids?	If they are raised correctly, they do fine around supervised children
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Ideal Environment:	They need quite a bit of land for a medium sized goat as they are restless if kept in small pastures. Where they will constantly be trying to escape. They prefer a diverse landscape full of wandering challenges and daring climbs
Ideal Climate:	All climates and as especially cold hardy able to withstand really cold temperatures
Conservation Status:	Not Listed by the *ALC Status Rare on the endangered list at the National Bureau of Animal and Genetic Resources
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Goat?	Yes, if a newbie owner was a homesteader or farmer with a decent amount of land
Goat Associations:	No known goat associations. Some of the American Goat Associations as listed in the “Useful Links” section of this article may be able to assist.
Goat Clubs:	Goat Clubs: No registered clubs for this breed in America
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

These goats are referred to as antelope-goats and you can see why. They are beautifully graceful, long and lanky.Hardy, tough and highly adaptable to their surroundings. These intelligent goats are easy to handle but they do prefer to be out and about free-ranging than penned or put in a pasture
Color(s):	White but can have dark grey, brown or cream eye, knee or body patches Both the male and female tend to have the same color and color patterns.
Goat⇒	Doe	buck
Breed Weight:	57 lbs.	68 lbs.
Breed Height:	About 30 incest at withers	About 36 incest at withers
Hair:	Medium to long, thick and soft coats	They males coat is similar to the females he just fills his out a bit more as he is bulkier.
Ears:	Pert up-right and tend to face forward. They are the same color as her coat	His hears are bigger and then to stand out but face downwards. They are the same color as his coat
Horns:	Medium sized. Extend from almost the back of her head and curl backwards.	Thick, extend from the top of his head and curve back then outward
Matures at age:	5 to 15 months	3 to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 6 months	4 to 9 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	1 Breeding cycle	Cover 20 to 30 does in 1 season

DOE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION

They are not very prolific breeders as they usually on have 1 kid per litter and breed only once a year
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 12 to 36 hours Ave. 21 days/18 to 24 days
Gestation Period:	145 to 150 days
Kids:	One
Good Mothers?	Yes, they will keep their kids close by until they are weaned
Lactation Period:	284 days
Milking From:	They are no used for their milk and have enough to feed their kid
Milk Quality:	Nutritious for the kid
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GOAT FIBER PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They have the most beautiful fiber that is used to make cashmere wool which makes the Changthangi a highly prized goat in India.
Fiber Production?	Excellent
Type of Fiber Produced:	Cashmere wool
Age they Produce from:	1 year
Approx. Quantity:	70 to 500 grams per season
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GOOD TO KNOW

A little bit more information about the Indian Changthangi Goat breed to read about
Where to buy them:	You can try Chianti Cashmere, they are in Italy but they may know of breeders around the world.
Agility:	Curious goats that are really creative in scaling ledges and climbing to where they want to get to.
Interact with other animals:	They mostly keep to their own species

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Changthangi is highly prized for its Pashmina production which is harvested once a year usually around June or July.

They amount of wool per grams per goat varies on the size of the goat and the state of their coat.

These goats can withstand extremely cold temperatures and seem to actually thrive in the cold. Some have been reported to withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Celsius.

They are not the best of breeders and this is probably why their numbers declined so rapidly. They only breed once a year and if they are impregnated will only produce one kid per litter.

It is not known for its leather production but they do have exceptionally good pelts.

They are actually sometimes used for their meat as they are said to have a very delectably flavored meat

HISTORY

The Changthangi is also known as the Pashmina goat and has been prized for generations for it fine cashmere wool it produces.

This breed has been found inhabiting the plateaus in the Tibet, Nepal and various areas of neighboring regions such as Kashmir in India and Ladakh in Jammu.

These goats produce ultra-fine cashmere wool which once woven is known as pashmina. Pashmina wool is said to be the finest cashmere wool in the world. It thickens is measured between 12 to 15 microns in fiber thickness.

These domestic goats are raised by the Changpa in the Changthang region of Greater Ladakh. The Changpa are nomadic communities which are a sub-sect of the lager Buddhist Drokpa community.

These goats grow a thick warm undercoat which is the basis for the Kashmir Pashmina wool and helps the animal withstand temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees Celsius. It is these goats that provide the wool that creates the famous Pashmina shawls that are exported worldwide.

There is a goat named Noori who is the world’s first Pashmina cloned goat and was developed by the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir.