GENUINE SCOTTISH CASHMERE
As an offshoot to our goat meat project, we are developing herds of Scottish Cashmere goats for the production of genuine Scottish Cashmere fibre and to help secure the future of the breed.
Did you know that Scottish cashmere fibre is not grown in Scotland but from goats in China, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan? Farming Cashmere goats in Scotland has almost died out so the imported fibre is classed as “Scottish” as it processed in Scotland. Many believe it is unethical to source from countries where the goat’s overpopulation is damaging the environment, and from communities who shear their goats’ coats leaving them without insulation over the winter months.
As guardians of the largest remaining farmed herd of Cashmere goats in Scotland, we believe this unique natural fibre is gift from our goats and should be treated with the utmost respect. This Spring, we ethically harvested our goats’ cashmere fibre by hand combing, not shearing, to leave our goats with glossy new coats for the summer. Goats would naturally spend the summer months rubbing themselves against fences and gorse to remove their unwanted cashmere so we are just giving them a helping hand.
Securing the future of this heritage breed is important to us. Once our Cashmere ladies retire from having kids, we plan let them live out their natural lives at Lunan Bay as a “Thank You” for their fibre, kids and company.
We have teamed up with a small scale Scottish fibre processor and plan to hopefully produce the Scots Cashmere in 20 years, which has been grown and processed in Scotland. Read more about this in this article in The Times.
We are running a small trial this year and should have fibre available in late 2021. If you are interested in working with us on our Lunan Bay Cashmere project, please contact Jillian McEwan on enquiries@lunanbayfarm.com and +44 (0)1241 830 598 for more information.
