Goat meat is consumed worldwide. Despite the importance of meat, however, few specialized meat breeds have been developed. Foremost among these is the Boer goat of South Africa, which has recently become established in several other countries, including the United States. While all goats grow hair coats, some produce specialized and valuable fiber types - such as mohair and cashmere. It is similar to the lustrous long wool of sheep, but distinct from the angora fiber produced by Angora rabbits.
Cashmere is quite different from mohair and is a true luxury fiber.
It is the soft undercoat which can be produced by nearly any type of goat. Some goats produce an excellent quantity and quality of cashmere, and while these goats do not constitute a true breed in the genetic sense, they are generally referred to as a breed. The history of goats in North America began with the arrival of Spanish explorers and settlers in the 1500s. English settlers brought a few goats to New England beginning in the 1600s. These two types accounted for most of the goats found in North America until the time of the Civil War.