Zhongwei goats are only from the arid desert steppes of the
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Gansu Province of China. They are bred
primarily for the production of kid pelts, and secondarily for cashmere fiber.
They live chiefly, if not solely, on salty or sandy plants
or shrubs.
Both genders are horned with the male's horns stretching
upward and twisted. The males average 39 kg (85 pounds) and females 24.5 kg (55
pounds). The Zhongwei reach sexual maturity at five to six months and are
generally mated at 18 months of age. The kidding percentage is 104-106 percent.
The kids are often slaughtered at 35 days of age for their
pelts, which have white, lustrous staples, and lovely curls. Zhongwei goats also
produce cashmere. The males produce approximately 140 g of cashmere and the
female 120 g. The percentage of cashmere in both sexes is 25% of the total
fleece. The cashmere length is 7.0 cm and 12.5 microns.