Zhongwei goat is a breed of goat which is primarily used for the production of kid pelts, and secondarily for cashmere fiber. It was originated from China.
Actually the Zhongwei goat is from the arid desert steppes of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Gansu Province of China.
The Zhongwei goats live chiefly, if not solely, on salty or sandy plants or shrubs. Read more information about this goat breed below.
Zhongwei Goat Characteristics
The Zhongwei goat is a small sized goat breed with white coat. Both bucks and does have horns. But the horns of the Zhongwei bucks are stretching upward and twisted.
On average, the bucks weight about 39 kg, and the does weight about 24.5 kg. Photo from America Pink and info from Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science (Oklahoma State University).
Uses
Zhongwei goat is mainly used for the production of kid pelts. And they are also raised for cashmere fiber production.
Special Considerations
Zhongwei goats are hardy and strong animal. They live chiefly, if not solely, on salty or sandy plants or shrubs. They reach maturity at the age of five to six months. But they are mated at 18 months of age.
The kidding percentage of the Zhongwei goat is 104-106 percent. The kids are slaughtered at 35 days of age for their pelts. Their pelts have white, lustrous staples and attractive curls.
The breed is also good for cashmere production. The does produce approximately 120 g of cashmere, and the bucks about 140 g. The percentage of cashmere in both bucks and does is 25 percent of the total fleece. And the length of the cashmere is 7.0 cm and 12.5 microns.
However, review full breed profile of this in the following table.
| Breed Name | Zhongwei |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Kid pelts, cashmere fiber |
| Breed Size | Small |
| Buck | About 39 kg |
| Doe | At least 24.5 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | Do well in it’s native area |
| Coat Color | White |
| Good for Stall Fed | No |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | China |
