Animal Breeds Used For Wool, Fiber And Cashmere

Garments have been made from animal fibers for centuries and animal fibers are still popular today. One benefit of animal fiber is that it traps heat but still allows air to circulate. Another is that it is naturally water resistant and dries faster than cotton or synthetic fibers.

Each wool-bearing animal produces a fiber with unique properties. The first wool-bearing animal to come to mind is most likely sheep, but that is just the beginning of the story. Each breed of sheep produces a different type of wool. The wool from Merino sheep is prized for its softness, but soft wools are generally less durable than soft wools. Wool from Leicester sheep, on the other hand, tends to be too coarse to wear next to the skin but tough enough to be made into rugs.

Cashmere, which comes from cashmere goats, is a fiber prized for its softness but it is often blended with other animal fibers to give it durability. Another goat fiber, mohair, comes from the undercoat of an angora goat, but should not be confused with the angora fiber, which comes from a rabbit. Other popular animal fibers include alpaca, buffalo, and even ox, all of which are known for being especially soft, lightweight, and warm.