The Changthangi or Changpa is a breed of cashmere goat native to the high plateaus of Ladakh in northernIndia. It is closely associated with the nomadicChangpa people of the Changthang plateau. It may also be known as the Ladakh Pashmina or Kashmiri.
The intense cold of the region causes the goats to grow a thick undercoat, which is harvested to produce the fine pashmina grade of cashmere.[4] In the twenty-first century the quality of the pashmina is threatened by global climate change;[4] approximately three quarters of Indian pashmina production is from these goats.[5] They are also used as pack animals and for meat.[3]: 369
The goats survive on grass in Ladakh, where temperatures plunge to as low as −20 °C (−4.00 °F).[7] These goats provide the wool for Kashmir's famous pashmina shawls. Shawls made from Pashmina wool are considered very fine, and are exported worldwide.
The Changthangi goats have revitalised the poor economy of Changthang, Ladakh where the wool production generates more than $8 million a year.[8]: 83
The Changthangi is a small goat, standing about 50 cm at the withers, and weighing on average approximately 20 kg. Both sexes are horned; the horns are large and twisted, and may reach a length of 55 cm.[3]: 369 The ears are small and upright.[8]: 81 The coat consists of an outer coat of long hair, and a thick undercoat of fine pashmina;[8]: 81 it is commonly white, but can also be black, brown or grey. The skin is white or pale brown.[3]: 369
^Sheikh I. Ishrat, Nigel P. Grigg, Nihal Jayamaha, Venkateswarlu Pulakanam (2018). Cashmere Industry: Value Chains and Sustainability. In: Chris K. Y. Lo, Jung Ha-Brookshire (editors) (2018). Sustainability in Luxury Fashion Business. Singapore: Springer. ISBN9789811088780, pages 113–132.
^Misra, R. K.; Singh, B.; Jain, V. K. (1 February 1998). "Breed characteristics of Changthangi pashmina goat". Small Ruminant Research. 27 (2): 97–102. doi:10.1016/S0921-4488(97)00033-3. ISSN0921-4488.
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