The goat breed especially associated with producing cashmere under its winter coat is the cashmere goat.
Cashmere is a fine, soft undercoat fiber produced by certain goats. It grows beneath a coarser outer layer of guard hair and is usually collected when the goat naturally sheds its winter coat. The fiber is then separated from the guard hairs before spinning and weaving.
Cashmere goats are not identical to Angora goats. Angora goats are primarily known for mohair, another valuable animal fiber. Cashmere is defined by the fineness and properties of the undercoat, and several regional goat populations produce it, including goats raised in China, Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
The name cashmere comes from Kashmir, the historic region associated with fine shawls. Fiber quality depends on diameter, length, color, cleanliness, and processing. Although cashmere is often linked with luxury clothing, the animal itself is a hardy production goat adapted to difficult climates.