Mohair Production and Quality Grades
topic
Mohair grades by age/shearing: Kid mohair (first two shearings, <25 μm, 60-120 mm length, finest, softest, premium $15-25/kg), Young goat mohair (third-fourth shearing, 25-30 μm, versatile, $10-15/kg), Adult mohair (30-40 μm, coarser, durable, upholstery/carpet, $6-12/kg). Shearing: twice annually (spring and fall) yielding 3-5 kg greasy fleece per goat per year. Processing: scouring (removing 15-25% grease/dirt), carding, combing (for worsted-type yarns), achieving 75-85% clean yield. Quality factors: fineness, length (>100 mm preferred), luster, strength (>45 N/ktex), color (white commanded premium), kemp content (<3% acceptable—coarse medullated fibres).
Role
Kid mohair commands 2-3× premium over adult due to fineness enabling next-to-skin apparel, driving selective breeding for fine fibre production and kid-focused management, though adult mohair remains valuable for durable applications where luster and resilience outweigh softness requirements.