Cashmere is a type of goat fibre, but strictly speaking there is no such animal as a cashmere goat. However, there are goats selected and bred to produce relatively high yields of cashmere, which is a fine fibre, or down, at the base of the coat. It is removed by combing or shearing before the goat moults in autumn. In New Zealand the earliest sources of cashmere fibre were feral goats, but these gave very low yields. Cashmere is regarded as the premier animal fibre because of its fineness and softness. This herd of cashmere-producing goats is owned by David Shaw, South Otago.