ISO/DIS 22786:2025(en

ISO TC 38/WG 33

Secretariat: JISC

Date: 2024-12-14

Textiles – Animal welfare in the supply chain –
General requirements for the production, preparation and traceability of cashmere fibre, including ethical claims and supporting information

© ISO 2025

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Contents

Foreword v

Introduction vi

1 Scope 1

2 Normative references 1

3 Terms and definitions 1

4 Requirements 3

5 Housing production system (3.6) 3

5.1 General requirements 3

5.2 Shelter requirements 3

5.2.1 Shelter type 3

5.2.2 Shelter area 3

5.2.3 Shelter structure 4

5.2.4 Facilities in the shelter 4

5.2.4.1 Food trough, water tub, and hay feeder 4

5.2.4.2 Fence in the goat shelter 4

5.2.4.3 Farrowing pen 4

5.2.4.4 Encirclement pen 4

5.3 Environments inside goat shelter 4

5.4 Environmental hygiene (in farm areas) 5

5.5 Feeding space 5

5.6 Outdoor exercise ground 5

5.7 Farm greening 5

5.8 Staff training 5

5.9 Reproduction 6

5.10 Breastfeeding and rearing 6

5.11 Weaning 6

5.12 Raising management 7

5.13 Feeding 7

5.14 Drinking water 7

5.15 Health management 8

5.16 Ranch Management 9

5.17 Treatment of manure 9

5.18 Routine management 9

5.19 Cashmere harvesting 9

5.20 Timing 10

5.21 Site 10

5.22 Personnel 10

5.23 Appliances 11

5.24 Combing 11

5.25 Shearing 11

5.26 Raw cashmere management 12

6 Nomadic production system (3.7) 13

6.1 General requirements 13

6.2 Shelter requirements 13

6.3 Environment inside the goat shelter 14

6.4 Environmental hygiene 14

6.4.2 Bedding dung removed shall be dried and used for fuel and organic fertilizer at the camp sites. 14

6.5 Feeding space 14

6.6 Outdoor exercise ground 14

6.7 Farm greening 14

6.8 Staff training 15

6.9 Reproduction 15

6.10 Breastfeeding and rearing 15

6.11 Weaning 16

6.12 Raising management 16

6.13 Feeding 16

6.14 Drinking water 16

6.15 Health management 16

6.16 Rangeland management 17

6.17 Treatment of manure 17

6.18 Routine management 17

6.19 Cashmere harvesting 18

6.20 Timing 18

6.21 Site 18

6.22 Personnel 18

6.23 Appliances 18

6.24 Combing 19

6.25 Shearing 19

6.26 Raw cashmere management 20

7 Transportation (applicable to both production systems) 20

8 Transportation personnel (applicable to both production systems) 21

9 Loading and unloading (applicable to both production systems) 21

10 Transition (applicable to both production systems) 21

11 Traceability and records (applicable to both production systems) 22

11.1 Housing production system 22

11.2 Nomadic herding system 22

12 Killing of goats (applicable to both production systems) 22

Bibliography 24

Foreword

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles.

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Introduction

The World Organization for Animal Health, Terrestrial Animal Health Code (OIE TAHC) defines animal welfare as how an animal copes with the conditions in which it lives and dies. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear and distress. Good animal welfare requires efffective health services, adequate housing management, nutrition suited to the age and comfore and normal behaviour, humane handling and slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment”.

In terms of longitude and latitude, cashmere goats are mainly distributed from 35° N to 55° N, and from 5° E to 120° E. Differences in longitude and latitude have an impact on the cashmere yield and quality properties (fineness, length, wrinkles) of different breeds: the annual cashmere yield varies from 50 g to more than 500 g per goat.

The main cashmere producing countries are China, Mongolia, Iran, and Afghanistan (representing more than 90 % of world production). Cashmere is a rare resource in the world and also one of the most expensive animal fibres in textile industry. Cashmere is renowned for its fineness and lightness, and warmth retention.

There are two types of cashmere breeding the world, in house breeding and nomadic breeding where widespread traditional nomadic herding practices persist, passing centuries-old traditions from generation to generation.

Cashmere fibre harvesting methods also differ. In nomadic breeding, cashmere is harvested through manual combing during natural shedding process in spring. However, cashmere is also harvested through shearing using manual and electronic devices. As a result of shearing, the mean fibre diameter of cashmere fibre is increasing, due also to disordered hybridization, which damages local cashmere goat breeds.

Sustainable development of cashmere production increasingly concern customers for its significant impact on land management, animal welfare and preservation of one of the most sensitive dry and semi dryland ecosystem and its biodoversity. Despite this, there are no international standards for sustainable production of cashmere in the world.

This standard aims to promote animal welfare and responsible management of rangelands and their biodiversity thereby promoting sustainable development throughout cashmere producing regions in the world.

Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment”.

A number of relevant factors are addressed in this standard to preserve the germplasm resources of cashmere goats, ensure animal welfare, preserve the quality of cashmere fibre, maintain biodiversity, and safeguard the environment, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the cashmere industry throughout the world.

Textile – Animal welfare in supply chain – General requirements for the production, preparation and traceability of cashmere fibre, including ethical claims and supporting information

This document specifies the management and control of cashmere goat farming and herding in the supply chain, including proper use of rangelands and pastures, housing and/or nomadic production system, reproduction, feeding, breeding and health, fibre harvesting and collection, labelling and traceability of herds and fibre.

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on social responsibility

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp

— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/

3.1

animal welfare

well-being of animals in the ethical conditions in which they are farmed and herd,

[SOURCE ISO 4465:2022, 3.1]

3.2

cashmere goat

species bred for cashmere fibre,

Note 1 to entry: Cashmere goats have double layer coats of fibres.

3.3

shelter

man-made living construction to protect cashmere goats (3.2) from adverse environmental and climate conditions

3.4

farm

area within a cashmere goat fence or courtyard wall (exercise area, feeding area), or the outside of the housing area

3.5

ranch

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock

3.6

housing production system

farming method carried out in permanent locations with dedicated facilities from which animals are let out for grazing

3.7

nomadic production system

form of cashmere goat herding that allows goats graze freely in open rangelands promoting natural breeding and regeneration of the rangeland plants

3.8

stud goat

buck (male) or doe (female) reserved for breeding purposes

3.9

kid goat

kid from born till the end of weaning period

3.10

unmated goat

goat after weaning till first mate

3.11

nutritional demand

amount of nutrients required by animals to maintain normal physiological activities, physical health, and achieve specific production performance

3.12

shearing

process for obtaining cashmere with manual or electric devices. during the cashmere shedding period in spring

3.13

combing

process for harvesting cashmere with manual comb to extract already loose underwool during natural shedding season in spring

3.14

nomadic herder

person(s) tending cashmere goats using their traditional herding skills and knowledge and free-range management and grazing practices

3.15

seasonal camp

location selected by nomadic herders for seasonal grazing of livestock based on historical use, territorial boundaries, forage resources, and animal safety

3.16

seasonal grazing

nomadic practice of occupying different rangelands according to the time of year based on the suitability of vegetation, water resources, and protective features for animals across summer, fall, winter, and spring climatic conditions

3.17

rangeland

uncultivated lands on which vegetation is predominantly native grasses, forbs and shrubs

3.18

reserve rangeland

traditional nomadic mobility strategy developed by nomadic herders to cope with the highly variable and seasonally changing environment

3.19

indigenous goat breeds

species that are uniquely adapted to the environmental, climatic, vegetation, and soil conditions of a specific geographical area

For all aspects of social and environmental responsibility not specifically addressed in this document, ISO 26000 shall be referred to.

This document defines requirements for the management of cashmere goats in accordance with animal welfare principles expressed in terms of fundamental principles based on the “Five Freedoms” as defined by the Farm Animal Welfare Council ^[1] according to Table 1.

Table 1 — Five (5) animal freedoms

5.1.1 The construction of house facility shall follow the basic principles of economy, practicality, firmness, environmental protection, summer protection, cold prevention, and ventilation.

5.1.2 The site selection shall comply with the relevant requirements of local animal husbandry laws and regulations; the planning and design shall comply with the relevant standards.

5.1.3 The layout of the house shall meet the biosafety requirements, with clear boundaries between functional areas such as living quarters, production auxiliary areas, breeding areas, isolation areas, and manure treatment sites, and each functional area shall be isolated from each other.

5.1.4 The construction materials of the house shall be economically practical, while taking into account the environmental protection requirements. Generally, common civil engineering materials can be used as raw materials.

5.2.1.1 In housing production system, according to production functions, shelter type is classified into adult buck shed, adult doe shed, unmated buck shed, and unmated doe shed. According to the architectural structure, it is classified into closed goat shed, semi-closed goat shed and open goat shed.

5.2.2.1 The area of the cashmere goat shelter shall be planned according to the size of the goat herd. It is appropriate to build an independent shelter of about 50 m² to 200 m², and ensure that the size of the shelter meets the requirements of 4,0 m² to 6,0 m² for each adult buck, 1,5 m² to 2 m² per goat for unmated buck, 1,5 m² to 2 m² per goat for adult doe, 0,8 m² to 1,2 m² per goat for unmated doe and 0,5 m² per goat for kid. Generally, the area of an outdoor exercise area shall be more than 2,5 times the area of the shelter.

The ground of the goat shelter shall be more than 20 cm higher than the exercise area, with a slope with an angle of 20° of high inside and low outside. It shall be made of cement, brick, or rammed earth. The eaves of the shelter shall be 2 m to 2,5 m from the ground. The fence height of the shelter exercise area shall be equal to or higher than 1,2 m, and the height of the wall shall be (1,2 to 1,5) m.

Food trough, water tub, and hay feeder

5.2.4.1.1 The food trough is mainly made of environmentally friendly materials, and the shape is usually rectangular. The height of the trough edge is 0,4 m to 0,5 m from the ground, and the height of the kid feed trough edge is 0,2 m to 0,3 m from the ground. The length of the food trough for adult does is 0,4 m to 0,5 m per goat, and the length of the food trough for adult bucks is 0,7 m to 0,8 m per goat. The drinking trough is a dedicated one that is suitable for easy cleaning, brushing, and disinfection. The number of equipped food troughs and water tubs, as well as the setting of hay feeders, shall be based on the criteria of not crowding, wasting, or polluting when feeding and drinking in this enclosure, and shall be reasonably set to meet the needs of goats for drinking water.

Fence in the goat shelter

It is recommended to use welded steel bars to fabricate the fence inside the shelter, with steel pipes as the main skeleton and steel bars as the fence. The diameter of the steel bars is 1,2 cm, the spacing is 12 cm, and the height of the fence is 1,5 m. It is equipped with a single piece of fence that is easy to disassemble, can be assembled, and can be moved. Moreover, the installed fences and feeding barriers shall not cause skin scratches or stuck on the head or horn of goats but shall be regularly inspected and maintained. If an electric fence is used, it shall be a safe voltage and shall not cause excessive discomfort to the goat.

Farrowing pen

Farrowing pen shall be built with wooden or iron materials in a sheltered area within the shelter for does to deliver.

Encirclement pen

A movable and foldable pen shall be provided in the goat shelter to facilitate epidemic prevention, treatment, breeding, breed selection, production performance evaluation, and individual testing of goat, A single pen is 1 m to 2 m long and 1,2 m high, and can be connected and folded with hooks and locks.

5.3.1 Environments inside the goat shelter shall comply to corresponding regulations or local laws.

5.3.2 Select building materials and structures according to local climatic conditions and take effective lighting and ventilation measures to ensure the environmental conditions of the goat shelter. The optimal temperature for goat shelters is from 15 °C to 21 °C, and the optimal temperature for kidding shed is from 18 °C to 25 °C. The temperature of the goat shed shall not be higher than 30 °C in summer and not lower than 0 °C in winter.

5.3.3 The goat shed shall be well ventilated and maintain good air quality. The ammonia concentration in the shed shall not exceed 20 mg/m³, the carbon dioxide concentration shall not exceed 1 500 mg/m³, the Total Suspended Particles (TSP) shall not exceed 4 mg/m³, and the particulate matter with particle size below 10 µm (PM10) shall not exceed 2 mg/m³. There shall be almost no special odour in the shed.

5.3.4 There shall be sufficient lighting in the goat shed, and natural lighting shall be used. The ratio of the area of the window on the outside of the goat shed to the area of the ground inside the goat shed shall not be less than 1:15. The goat shed shall be equipped with lighting equipment with an illumination of 100 lux at the horizontal position of the goat's head. The goat shed shall be in at least 6 hours of continuous darkness or low levels of light per day for the goat to rest.

5.3.5 The noise of the goat shed shall not exceed 70 dB. Shelters shall be provided for goat in the grazing production system to ensure the safety and animal welfare requirements of goat under adverse weather conditions, and to ensure that goat are protected against threats from wild animals.

5.3.6 All habitats shall provide certain bedding materials (such as faecal drainage boards, bricks, dry sands, crushed forage straws, or other materials), to ensure a comfortable habitat for goats.

5.4.1 The newly built goat breeding farm shall carry out environmental assessment in accordance with corresponding acts or standards on the prevention and control of pollution from large-scale livestock and poultry breeding. Regularly monitor environmental parameters such as air, water, and soil within the site, evaluate environmental quality, and promptly take corresponding improvement measures to ensure that there is no mutual pollution between the site and the surrounding environments.

5.4.2 Goat farms shall be equipped with production processes and equipment for pollutant reduction, animal waste treatment, and reuse of resources.

5.4.3 When the grassland environment is suitable, a grazing production system shall be adopted to meet the biological habits of cashmere goats. Abnormal goat behaviours may occur when the pasture and water are not suited for grazing, when water is scarce and loss or inadequate weight gain in goats, or goat illness. Such behaviour shall be frequently observed and recorded, analysed, and corrective measures shall be taken in a timely manner.

5.5.1 The goat shed shall provide sufficient space for the goat to move and rest and shall meet the welfare requirements for free movement of goats.

5.5.2 See Table 2 for the minimum feeding density of the goat shed based on meeting the number of food troughs.

Table 2 — Feeding space for different types of goat

5.6.1 Outdoor exercise grounds shall be built with an area of more than 2,5 times the area of the goat shelter. The exercise ground shall be connected to the goat shelter to allow free access in and out. The width of the goat shelter entrance and exit shall not be less than 1,5 m.

5.6.2 The exercise ground surface shall be flat and dry. If conditions permit, the ground shall be paved with clay bricks to facilitate cleaning and drainage. In areas with high summer temperatures, the exercise ground shall be planted with trees or built with sunshades and equipped with drinking water facilities. Measures shall be taken to effectively protect tree bark from the goats.

Greening shall be carried out in the living, production and shade areas of the goat farm enclosure. It is recommended to plant tree species and flowers that can improve the environment and purify the air. Trees shall be tall deciduous trees, and it is not advisable to plant plants that are toxic, thorny, and prone to producing fluff. Any improvement can be monitored based on the coverage rate of trees and plants of the site.

The skill and training of staff working on the farm is vital in ensuring a high standard of hygiene and animal welfare. The working skills of employees are very important for ensuring the animal welfare and health care of cashmere goats in the ranch. It is necessary to continuously train all employees in animal welfare, health care, feeding, epidemic prevention, and other management aspects of the ranch to ensure that technical personnel are familiar with and master relevant skills, have the technical level to guide the operation of the ranch, and archive timely the health management status of cashmere goats and employee training records.

5.9.1.1 When does are bred for the first time, their weight shall reach over 70 % of their adult weight. The breeding cycle from weaning to breeding of kids shall not be less than 8 months.

5.9.1.2 For does in common cashmere goat farms, natural mating can be adopted for breeding. During the breeding season or in a planned and regular manner, excellent stud bucks can be placed into the doe herd, with a ratio of 1:30 to 1:50^[4] for bucks and does. If conditions permit, artificial assisted mating or artificial insemination can be used for breeding.

5.9.1.3 For does in cashmere goat breeding farms, artificial insemination shall be used for breeding or small group selection (natural mating), and breeding records shall be kept. The laparoscopy and embryo transfer shall be prohibited in compliance with cashmere goat welfare.^[1] The operators shall be skilled, with gentle and rapid actions, to minimize stress and damage to the does during artificial insemination.

5.9.1.4 The doe shall be put into the kidding shed (pen) before delivery, and the temperature of the kidding pen shall not be lower than 18 °C.

5.9.1.5 The delivery process shall be attended by a veterinarian or experienced breeding personnel and provide midwifery and nursing assistance for does and new-born kids.

5.10.1 Natural or manual assistance breeding shall be used to provide colostrum to new-born kids, ensuring that they eat colostrum within 2 hours of birth and have sufficient colostrum within 12 hours.

5.10.2 Does that do not take to their new kids shall be placed in the farrowing pen and fed separately. After manually assisted breastfeeding training, the does and their kids shall be reunited into a group after confirming that the doe and its kids recognize each other and can breastfeed normally.

5.10.3 Measures shall be taken to manually breastfeed kids of does with insufficient breast milk.

5.10.4 Breastfeeding management measures for single kids/multiparous kids shall be formulated to ensure that single kids/multiparous kids receive appropriate breastfeeding.

5.10.5 Kids shall be supplemented with kid feed and high-quality forage 15 days after birth. The amount of supplementary feeding increases with age, allowing them to forage freely.

5.11.1 Under normal feeding management and normal kid development conditions, kids can be weaned around 90 days after birth.

5.11.2 Kids shall not be weaned until they reach 40 % of adult weight or at least 8 weeks after birth.

5.11.3 The feeding and management of weaned kids shall be strengthened to reduce stress and ensure normal growth and development of the kids.

5.11.4 After weaning, male and female kids shall be raised in separate groups.

5.12.1 Personnel management

5.12.2 Goat farm operators and managers need to have the ability to master animal welfare information and related technologies.

5.12.3 Technicians and breeders shall be trained before work and shall be competent for the work, they shall be familiar with the biological characteristics and behavioural habits of cashmere goats, and master skills related to animal welfare and cashmere goat feeding management.

5.12.4 Large-scale livestock farms or goat breeding farms shall be equipped with veterinary doctors and archive keepers.

5.12.5 The employment of livestock farms shall comply with corresponding labour law and other relevant regulations, and a management and assessment system for employees shall be established to ensure the implementation of employee benefits and ensure the health and safety of employees.

5.13.1 The forage (feed), feed raw materials, and feed additives used in goat farms shall comply with the requirements of relevant standards, national laws and regulations, The use of animal derived feeds other than dairy products and feeds containing antibiotics is prohibited.

5.13.2 The source of feed raw materials shall be traceable. The feed purchased by the goat farm shall have a written record of the raw material composition and content of the supplier's feed; keep the feed formula and ingredient list if the feed is self-made.

5.13.3 Deteriorated, mouldy or contaminated forage grass (feed) shall not be used in goat farms.

5.13.4 Preventive measures shall be taken for the feed to be stored to prevent contamination, spoilage, and waste during the feed and storage process.

5.13.5 Goat farms shall provide full price diets that meet the nutritional needs of cashmere goats based on their breed characteristics, different physiological stages, and health status, to meet their physiological and production nutritional requirements. For kids within 3 months, adopt free foraging and drinking methods, and feed once in the morning, noon, and evening. The optimal ratio of fine to crude feed diet is 4:6.

5.13.6 Daily, monthly and annual dietary requirements on nutritional demand such as energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, minerals, vitamins, etc. for unmated goats, stud goats and ewes in pregnancy and lactation periods shall be specified accordingly.

5.13.7 In the diet, attention shall be paid to the ratio of fine to crude feed, and there shall be at least 50 % of fibrous substances for goat to ruminate.

5.13.8 During the process of changing feed in a goat farm, sudden changes in the type and amount of forage (feed) shall be avoided. If changes are necessary, a gradual transition shall be made, with a transition period of more than 7 days.

5.13.9 The use of hormone growth promoting agents and non-therapeutic antibiotics for the purpose of promoting growth shall not be used in goat farms. The use of medicated feed shall be clearly identified and recorded.

5.14.1 The goat farm shall provide sufficient, clean, and fresh drinking water, and the drinking water quality shall meet the requirements of corresponding standard.

5.14.2 Adequate drinking water facilities shall be provided based on the number, age, physiological stage, and different types of feed provided, as well as ways of drinking water, to ensure that goats have sufficient drinking water available at any time.

5.14.3 If natural water sources are used, potential disease risks shall be assessed. If there is no natural water source, drinking water facilities such as hand well or deep well shall be drilled to ensure that the water supply facilities or water sources can meet the drinking water needs of goat. Goat daily water needs are from 3 to 5 litres per day depending on seasonal types).

5.14.4 The design of drinking water facilities shall consider preventing drowning of kids

5.14.5 The drinking water equipment shall be cleaned regularly, and the water supply system shall be maintained and disinfected regularly to ensure that the drinking water is clean and free from pollution.

5.14.6 The goat farm shall have emergency water supply measures to prevent water supply interruption due to drought, freezing, or faults.

5.14.7 When drugs or anti-stress agents need to be added in drinking water, it shall be administered accurately under the guidance of a veterinarian, and the addition record shall be kept.

5.15.1.1 Goat farms shall develop veterinary health and farm animal welfare plans or systems that meet the requirements of laws and regulations, which shall at least include:

— Biosafety measures;

— Disease prevention and control measures;

— Drug use and residual control measures;

— Harmless treatment measures for sick and dead goat and wastes;

— Other measures related to animal welfare and health.

5.15.1.2 Goat farms shall regularly inspect the implementation of health plans, record the inspection results timely, and update or revise them based on the implementation and relevant requirements.

5.15.1.3 In addition to routine disease prevention and control, qualified veterinarians or designated veterinary services shall be provided to ensure that goats can receive reasonable, accurate, and timely treatment.

5.15.2.1 The use of veterinary drugs for the treatment of sick goat shall comply with corresponding regulations. When using medication for commercial goat before being marketed, a drug withdrawal period shall be implemented based on the medication used.

5.15.2.2 Specialized disease prevention and control drug cabinets shall be equipped, with clear classification, no expired drugs allowed to be used, and with exclusive drug management space and archives.

Formulate immunization procedures for the farm according to immunization regulations by selecting appropriate vaccines and immunization methods. The main diseases that need to be monitored daily include foot and mouth disease, goat pox, bluetongue, anthrax, brucellosis, tuberculosis, etc. Pay attention to monitoring the introduction of exotic diseases, such as itching, small ruminant disease, etc.

5.15.4.1 Establish a biosafety isolation area for goat farms and develop a cashmere goat biosafety assessment form. Strengthen the implementation of systems such as isolation, traffic control, sanitation, disinfection, and harmless treatment of sick and dead goat and wastes.

5.15.4.2 Major epidemics shall be promptly reported in accordance with the requirements of corresponding laws and regulations, and effective measures shall be taken to prevent and control of them.

5.15.5.1 The surrounding environment of the goat shed shall be regularly disinfected. Set up disinfection pools at the entrance of goat farms and regularly replace the disinfection solution.

5.15.5.2 When entering the production area, staff shall change their work uniforms and shoes, and undergo UV irradiation for at least 5 minutes for disinfection. When outsiders need to enter the production area, they shall change their work uniforms and shoes, undergo UV irradiation for at least 5 minutes for disinfection, comply with the on-site epidemic prevention system, and follow the designated route.

5.16.1 Regular maintenance shall be carried out according to the seasonal characteristics of the pasture to maintain a good ecological environment of the pasture.

5.16.2 When grassland or feed crops are threatened by diseases and pests, biological methods and physical pest control methods shall be used instead of chemical insecticides for control.

5.16.3 When monitoring indicates that pests or diseases have reached a level that endangers pasture crops and cannot be controlled by other means, insecticide spraying can be used and limited to the target area. When there is a risk of drifting to non-target areas, spraying is not allowed. The poisonous weeds on the grazing grassland shall be cleaned up and its spread shall be controlled.

5.16.4 Cashmere goat breeding activities shall not cause pollution to the pastureland.

5.16.5 Soil testing shall be conducted at least every three years to monitor soil health or grazing and crop land, including major nutrients, pH value, and soil organic matters. It is prohibited to apply chemical fertilizers to frozen or waterlogged soil.

5.16.6 Biodegradable materials shall be used for mulching crops on farms, and non-degradable materials shall be properly treated when used.

5.16.7 Effective management measures shall be taken to maintain the ecological balance of wild plants and wildlife (excluding rats and voles) in the pasture.

5.16.8 When grasslands or feeding crops are threatened by diseases, pests, and rodents, it is recommended to use biological and/or physical methods to control its spread.

5.17.1 Goat farms shall have a waste disposal plan and conduct harmless treatment of goat farm waste to avoid environmental pollution and prevent the spread of diseases.

5.17.2 Goat farms shall have dedicated manure storage yards and manure treatment facilities, which shall promptly treat manure according to the requirements in corresponding standards or regulations.

5.17.3 Manure shall be utilized as a resource.

Salt and minerals shall be provided to goats.

The castration of non-breeding stud goats shall be completed within 8 weeks based on actual conditions such as seasonal and weather conditions. Special tools and necessary wound treatment are required during castration operation, and all physiological changes other than castration are prohibited.

Goats shall receive regular care for their hooves and feet. For grazing goats repair their hooves every 6 months; for housing bucks, repair their hooves every 2 months, repair housing ewes’ hooves every 4 months.

5.19.1.1 Cashmere can be obtained by combing or shearing Cashmere shall be harvested from cashmere goats during the moulting season in accordance with cashmere natural growth cycle. Cashmere fibre is harvested once a year, which can be obtained by combing or shearing; both combing and shearing operations shall respect animal welfare principles.

Note: Combing is the preferred harvesting method to preserve the quality of fibres.

5.19.1.2 Effective protective measures shall be taken during cashmere collecting process and goat shall be treated gently. To avoid accidental injury to the skin of goat during the process of combing and/or shearing, it is allowed to properly restrain the goat. It is necessary to minimize the restraining time, reduce the stress of the goat, and minimize the pain of the goat. Cashmere collecting shall be conducted in groups based on the gender, age, physiological status (lactation, pregnancy, empty pregnancy), and health status of the goat.

5.19.1.3 When harvesting cashmere, the order of adult does, unmated does, adult bucks and unmated bucks can be followed. The cashmere of pregnant does shall be collected after kidding.

Cashmere goats with good cashmere density and high cashmere yield can be collected by shearing. Cashmere goats with poor cashmere density and a cashmere yield of ≤ 400 g/goat can be collected by combing.

5.19.1.4 Care shall be taken during the cashmere collecting process, to avoid damage to the skin of goat. Special care shall be taken to avoid accidental injury, especially around parts of the foreskin and scrotum of bucks and the nipple of does.

5.19.1.5 If skin damage occurs during cashmere collecting, it shall be treated promptly, and the injured goat shall be observed for a week to confirm recovery.

5.19.1.6 If the weather becomes cold after cashmere collecting, the goat shall be kept in sheltered pens to avoid getting sick from cold.

5.19.1.7 After cashmere collecting, the goat shall be placed in a separate area for observation to see if there are any symptoms of discomfort. At the same time, control diet within 24 hours, and start grazing after 24 hours.

5.20.1 Cashmere collecting shall be carried out during the moulting season. Cashmere goats shed their down fibre from mid-April to mid-June each year. Due to factors such as strain, age, environment, nutrition, physiology, and geography, the shedding time of cashmere goats varies from place to place.

5.20.2 The best time to collect cashmere is when the undercoat down around the head, ears, and eyes of cashmere goats begin to fall off, and when the roots of the down on the body part begin to detach from the skin.

5.20.3 Choose to collect cashmere during a period of warm and stable climate. Suspend fibre collecting in case of overcast and rainy windy and snowy days, or extreme weather conditions.

5.21.1 The cashmere collecting site shall be located close to the pasture or goat farm, in an area with a clean and tidy floor and a spacious and bright space, free from pollution and noise.

5.21.2 Cashmere collecting shall be carried out in a specially allocated shed, which is spacious with good lighting and well protected from wind. The indoor temperature shall be between 15 °C to 20 °C.

5.21.3 The cashmere collecting site shall be clean and even, and the floor shall be made of cement, brick, or wood. Fabrics not containing synthetic fibres (such as polypropylene) can be used to cover the floor.

Note: Synthetic fibres could contaminate the cashmere fibres.

5.21.4 Contaminants and hazardous substances in the site shall be removed before cashmere collecting. The cashmere collecting site shall be cleaned and disinfected the day before and every day after cashmere collecting.

5.22.1 Cashmere collecting operators shall receive training in cashmere collecting skills and animal welfare related knowledge, and they shall be proficient with gentle operations.

5.22.2 The cashmere collecting site shall be equipped with professional veterinary technicians to promptly treat injured goat during cashmere collecting operations.

5.22.3 Professional cashmere collecting technicians, cashmere grading and packaging personnel, production archive management personnel, and shearing machine maintenance personnel shall be on cashmere collecting site to guide cashmere picking operators, to grade cashmere, to record individual cashmere collecting data, and to carry out equipment maintenance operations.

5.23.1 Combing devices shall be equipped for coming cashmere. There are two types of combing devices: coarse-tooth comb and fine-tooth comb. The coarse-tooth comb consists of 7 to 8 comb teeth, with a spacing of 2 cm to 2,5 cm. It is used for combing guard hair and preliminary combing. The fine-tooth comb consists of 12 to 14 comb teeth with a spacing of 0,5 cm to 1,0 cm, used for secondary combing or combing in smaller areas. The sharpness of the comb tips shall be checked before combing. It shall be properly grinded if it is too sharp to prevent skin damage when combing cashmere.

5.23.2 Manual scissors can be used for shearing, powered shearing equipment is preferable. Powered shearing equipment shall be installed and adjusted properly before use.

5.24.1 After restraining the goat, the fibre tips shall be cleaned. Use scissors to remove the bits of grass, dung, and urine-stained fibre.

5.24.2 After cleaning the fibre tips, comb the hair from the head with a comb, with even hand strength. The comb shall be at an angle of 30° to 45° to the surface of the goat's body, and comb the hair along the neck, shoulder, back, waist, thigh, abdomen, and other parts in turn.

5.24.3 Cashmere shall be combed gently and steadily, close to the skin, quickly and evenly, yank is prohibited to prevent damage to skin follicles. The cross section on the back of a goat is the most vulnerable part, and it shall be handled with great care when combing this part.

5.24.4 After combing with coarse-tooth comb, comb against the fibre with a fine-tooth comb. Comb the other side after combing one side.

5.24.5 The combing for one goat shall be completed within 30 minutes.

5.25.1 The goat to be sheared shall be captured by full-time professional personnel from the goat shed and transferred to the working table in the cashmere shearing shed, and then transferred to the cashmere collecting personnel.

5.25.2 When using ropes to restrain a goat, the front and back legs or three legs of the goat that are close to the ground shall be fastened with the rope and shall not be tied too tightly to avoid obstructing blood circulation or other injuries. When shearing stud bucks and pregnant does, it is prohibited to bind three legs or step on the chest, abdomen, limbs, head and neck of the goat with legs or feet.

5.25.3 The side lying direction when taking down the goat shall be the same as the goat stands up, that is, the goat shall be taken down from the same direction as the goat stands up, in order to prevent sudden death due to intestinal twisting and puffing when the goat rolls over.

5.25.4 When a goat is turned over during cashmere shearing, the physical condition of the goat shall be observed at all times. In case of any discomfort (such as acute rumen inflation, intestinal volvulus, dyspnoea, etc.), the shearing shall be stopped immediately, the rope shall be removed, and medical rescue measures shall be taken.

5.25.5 Special tools for shearing shall be used to push forward to the head and neck from the boundary line between the rear leg and back at an angle of about 30°, and then move along this line towards the abdomen and back. Start shearing less than approximately 0,5 cm against goat skin. After shearing one side, turn the goat over and shear the other side as above.

5.25.6 The shearing operation shall be skilled and smooth. In case of shearing the wrinkle parts, the skin shall be stretched to make it as smooth as possible, and the cashmere shall be evenly sheared off at one go.

5.25.7 The shearing injury rate shall not be greater than 10 %, and the number of injuries of the sheared goat shall not exceed two ^[3].

5.25.8 The shearing of a goat shall be completed within 30 minutes. After shearing, the goat shall be released from restraint and put back to the flock as soon as possible.

5.26.1.1 Classify and pack cashmere according to sex, age, colour of fibre and/or cashmere test results.

5.26.1.2 White cotton or linen cloth packaging bags shall be used for packaging according to the classification of cashmere, and each bag shall be packaged with 30 kg. Synthetic fibre bags are not allowed to be used for packaging.

5.26.1.3 Mark the packaging bag with goat owner's name, recording person, combing person, weighing person, fibre weight, goat type, ear-tag number or other form of identification, fibre length, fineness, goat origin, colour and other information.

5.26.2.1 The inspection shall be carried out from March to April every year before cashmere collecting.

5.26.2.2 Conduct identification according to the order of the individual identification form. Key parameters include ID number, sex, age, coat colour, horn type, cashmere thickness, density, fibre length and fibre fineness, etc.

5.26.2.3 On the left side of the goat, 2-10 cm rearward from the posterior edge of the shoulder blade, and 1 cm to 2 cm above the midline of the body, separate the hair cluster and measure the thickness and length of the staple layer along the direction of the hair cluster with a 20 cm long steel ruler, based on the length of most of the hair clusters.

5.26.2.4 The fineness shall be determined by visual inspection method, comparing with the referenced cashmere sample determined in the laboratory, expressed in coarse, medium, and fine types. 15 μm to 16 μm is medium, over 16 μm is coarse, less than 15 μm is fine. The objective measurement method is used to measure the mean diameter of cashmere fibres in breeding goat farms, main stud buck in breeding flocks, and core flock does, using a microscope (projector) to measure the mean diameter of cashmere, expressed in μm.

NOTE: ISO 137 has been found suitable for the measurement of the fibre diameters.

5.26.2.5 The density of cashmere can be determined based on the elasticity of the fibre coat, the structure of the fibre cluster and the skin space.

5.26.3.1 Record the parameter information of each goat in detail according to the test data and archive such records regularly.

5.26.3.2 In addition to information on packaging, other main information shall also be permanently archived with a unique number for easy traceability.

6.1.1 Seasonal shelters shall be designed and built to create a favourable living environment for the goat herd through protection from external environmental conditions and climate extremes and safeguard their welfare, health, growth and reproduction.

6.1.2 The location of winter and spring shelters shall be selected to expose goats to early morning and late evening sun and protect from cold breeze and snow drifting.

6.1.3 Winter and spring shelters shall have watering points, grazing area, feeding area, hay and feed storage, and separate quarters for does to deliver, and pens for kids.

6.1.4 In the construction of a shelter, locally available and animal friendly materials shall be used, such as wood, timber, straws, hay, rocks, compressed and dried dungs. Shelter bedding shall be made of dried and softened dung powder.

6.2.1.1 Shelter shall be made of natural and animal friendly materials ensuring suitable resting environment for the goat herd;

6.2.1.2 The shelter shall be constructed in an area elevated from ground to prevent from flooding and waterlogging;

6.2.1.3 Accessible to clean drinking water;

6.2.1.4 Nursing shed shall be constructed for each neonatal age of the kids;

6.2.1.5 Shelter doors shall allow good ventilation/air circulation and dry bedding;

6.2.1.6 Shelter length shall depend on the width minium size of which is between 6 to 12 meters.

6.2.1.7 Each type of goat feed shall be kept in separate container. Water shall be kept in a specially designed container accessible to goats.

In the nomadic cashmere production system, shelter type is classified according to their suitability to use different seasons: winter and spring , and roofless open enclosures for warm months.

Shelter area

Cashmere goat shelters shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the sex and physiological status of goats. Optimum accommodation shall be at least 2,0 m² for castrated male, 1,8 m² to 2 m² per each adult does and 0,5 m² per kid.

Shelter structure

The structure of the winter and spring shelters for goats is usually circular with a diameter of (12 to 18) m and a wall height of (1,5 to 2) m. The height of the back of the shed shall be 1,5 m, and the height of the front shall be no more than (2,5 to 3) m. The sheds for kids shall be (12 to 15) m² and separated with wooden fences to accommodate 50 kids to 60 kids.

Facilities in the shelter

Food trough, water tub, and hay feeder

Food troughs, hay feeders and, if necessary, water tubs shall be installed in kidding pens and kids’ sheds. The height of the food trough for adult does shall be (0,3 to 0,35) m from the ground, and that for the kid shall be (0,15 to 0,2) m. The length of the food trough for adult does shall be (3 to 4) m, and that for kids shall be (1,5 to 2,0) m optimal. The length of hay feeder shall be up to 3 m, the height shall be less than 0,5 m and the width shall be 0,60 m with grated structures.

A small pen and shed specailly designed for kids shall be constructed from wooden materials inside shelter. If it is built by using stones, it shall be lined with wood or dried animal dung for warmth and not to hurt kids and goats.

6.3.1 The goat shelter shall comply with the following conditions:
the optimal inside temperature shall be at a range of (-6 to 8) °C, kidding pens and sheds shall be heated to maintain inside temperatures at (4 to 10) °C. To keep the bedding of both goat shelters and and kid pens dry, wet bedding dung shall be removed and replaced with dry dung once a day.

6.3.2 For semi-closed shelters, drop curtains shall be used which can be easily opened after sunrise for warmth and allow ventilation and air circulation.

6.3.3 The shelter design shall be made to allow exposure to natural lighting.

6.3.4 Shelters shall be provided to ensure the safety and animal welfare requirements from adverse weather conditions and threats from wild predators.

6.4.1 The area around goat shelters and enclosures shall remain clean year-round to prevent pollution and waste buildup. Liquid waste and dirt shall be regularly removed, especially during warm seasons. Dung shall be collected, dried daily, and used as bedding in shelters, sheds, and pens.

6.4.2 Bedding dung removed shall be dried and used for fuel and organic fertilizer at the camp sites.

6.4.3 Each seasonal shelter and summer campsites shall have a waste collection point.

6.4.4 The carcasses of dead animals shall be buried or burned under guidance of authorized hygeine and sanitation specialists.

6.5.1 The minimum feeding space of the goats of different age and sex are as shown in Table 3.

A healthy productive grazing areas for does with young kids shall be made available nearby the shelter, within 0,5 km for easy access. The shelter shall have a sunbathing area for kids aged 7 days or more.

6.5.2 Natural lighting shall be used.

Table 3 — Feeding space for different types of goat

No requirements applicable.

No requirements applicable.

Continues and periodic skills and knowledge training shall be provided for herders and assistant herders to ensure compliance with animal welfare. e, health care, feeding, disease prevention, and other management aspects of the nomadic cashmere production system.

6.9.1.1 Young does coming to first shall not be mated until they achieve puberty or reached a minimum of 65 % the average weight of adult does.

6.9.1.2 For natural mating, at the buck:doe ratio shall be not high than 1:50 to 1:60. In a planned and regular manner, the group mating ratio for superior stud bucks with desirable genetic traits can be reduce to a ratio of 1:40 to 1:50.

6.9.1.3 The doe shall be put into the kidding shed (pen) before delivery, and the kidding pen temperature between (6 to 8) °C.

6.9.1.4 The kidding shall be attended by herders trained to provide nursing assistance, if required.

Newborn suckling kids shall be allowed to suckle colostrum within 2 hours after birth. If the mother doe does not have enough milk, suckling from another doe that has given birth at the same time may be allowed.

Does that reject their kids shall be kept with their kids in a separate pen. If the doe refuses to care for the kid, the herder can see if another doe whose kids have died will adopted the rejected kids. After it has been confirmed that the doe accepts its kids and can suckle normally, they can rejoin the herd.

In the nomadic cashmere production system, newborn kids are formed into groups. Kids are reared through three consecutive group periods: the neonatal period lasts for the first postnatal week (from day 0 to day 7); the intermediate period refers to the second week of postnatal life (from day 8 to day 14). The third grown-up group includes kids over day 14 and beyond.

The kids moving from one group to another shall be examined for growth status and health. Intermediate group pens may accommodate from 30 to 40 kids, and grown-up group pens may accomodate up to 250 kids.

Neonatal group

Kids in the neonatal group shall be kept with their mothers and soft natural hay offered hanged on a long rope(s) so that kids try to smell and grasp. By doing this, kids learn to eat hay first and shift to consumption of other feed stuffs. Neonatal groups shall be supervised to ensure sufficient milk allowance by the mothers to provide sufficient feeding of kids.

Intermediate group

Once kids are able to digest all milk and the does have regained strength after kidding, does and kids will be intermittently separated. In the intermediate group, does are returned to pasture during the day to graze without kids, but shall be reunited with their kids for breastfeeding a minimum of three times per day. Does and kids shall be kept together throughout the night. Intermediate group pens may accommodate from 30 to 40 kids.

Grown up group

Kids and does are kept separately and reunited for twice daily breastfeeding. Kids shall be supplemented with high quality hay. The amount of supplementary hay available shall increase with the age of the kids. Supplemental hay shall be hung at an accessible height within and outside of pens to encourage motion. It is important for hay to be hung on ropes to prevent ground contamination or snagging of kids. On warm and sunny days, kids can be sent to nearby pasture.

6.11.1 In the nomadic cashmere production system, no weaning is advisable because the nomadic herding system is firmly based on mixed herding, wherein does, kids, young goats of both sexes, and adult males are herded in a single flock.

6.11.2 If utmostly required, kids may be weaned after 150 days under normal feeding management and growth conditions, provided that it doesnt discomfirt kids before cold seasons start.

6.11.3 After weaning, male castrated and female kids shall be raised in mixed groups.

6.12.1.1 In the nomadic cashmere production system nomadic herders shall be equiped with traditional livestock herding skills and knowledge tending the herd, feeding, taking care of animal welfare and breeding practices.

6.12.1.2 If required, herders and assistant herders may receive additional training in goat herding and cashmere production with emphasis on goat herd welfare, breeding, cashmere harvesting and storage technologies.

6.12.1.3 Nomadic herders and their assistants shall comply with corresponding labor law and other relevant regulations, and performance monitoring and evaluation shall be established to ensure the welfare, health and labour safety of employees.

6.13.1.1 In the nomadic cashmere production system, goats primarily take daily forage and nutrition through grazing in open rangelands. Any additional forage (feed), feeding materials, and additives shall comply with the relevant standards, and regulations. The use of animal-derived feed and feeds containing antibiotics shall be prohibited.

6.13.1.2 Feed shall be traceable. Formulas and ingredient lists of purchased supplementary feed shall be kept. The materials used for making home-made supplementary feed shall be recorded.

6.13.1.3 Suckling mother- goats shall be fed daily with additional hay, forage and minerals to ensure healthy body condition and milk yield.

6.14.1.1 Herders shall have water sources that meet needs of goats throughout the year, and the drinking water quality shall meet the requirements of corresponding country’s standard/s.

6.14.1.2 In the nomaidc cashmere production system, if natural water sources are used, potential disease and other pollution risks shall be assessed. If no natural water source exists, adequate drinking water facilities (hand well or deep engineer well) shall be provided . Goats shall be allowed to drink (3 to 5) litres of water per day depending on the season, age, physiological status and type of feed provided.

6.14.1.3 Goats shall be watered in small groups to ensure each and every goat has enough water.

6.14.1.4 Herders shall have emergency water supply measures to prevent water supply interruption due to drought, freezing, or faults in the water delivery system.

Herders shall make sure that health and welfare is ensured through:

— Disease prevention and control measures;

— Drug use and residual control measures;

— Biosafe treatment measures for sick and dead goats and waste;

— Other measures related to animal welfare and health.

The use of veterinary drugs for the treatment of sick goats shall comply with corresponding regulations. When using medication for commercial goats and milking goats, a drug withdrawal period shall be implemented before the marketing of anyproducts intended for consumption. The use of drugs for the treatment of goats shall be regularly recorded in household livestock herd health book.

Herders shall ensure that their herds are vaccinated against these main diseases: FMD, goat pox, anthrax, brucellosis, tuberculosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).

Any cases of illness shall be promptly reported to the relevant veterinary unit and effective treatment measures shall be taken by the herders.

The shelter and surrounding environment of the pastoral goat shall be seasonally disinfected by natural ventilation, and the burning of dung and herbs.

6.16.1 Herders shall have four season grazing rangelands to ensure access to sufficient and nutricous food, clean water and minerals for the goat herd.

6.16.2 Herder families with shared seasonal rangelands and water sources shall form user groups or herder cooperatives on a voluntary basis and establish user agreement to enforce seasonal rotational grazing and resting plans and schedules for sustainable management.

6.16.3 Herders shall have hay making area and access to forage to ensure a reserve for additional feed during winter and spring seasons.

6.16.4 Rangeland health and biodiversity shall be monitored on annual basis to ensure adequate nutritional intake, water and minterals for the goat herd.

6.16.5 Motorcycles or vehicles shall not be used when tending goats on rangelands to avoid imposing any stress to the goat herd.

6.17.1 In the summer, nomadic herders shall promptly remove dung to ensure it remains dry.

6.17.2 The nomadic herders shall remove compressed dung from the winter and spring shelters to be dried and reused for fuel.

6.17.3 Goat dropping dung and powdered yellow manure shall be collected and sterilized by the natural biotherm method, and used as dry bedding.

6.18.1 Supplementation of salt and minerals.

6.18.2 In the high mountains and other specific regions, cashmere goat shall be provided with supplement mineral feeds such as salt and combined mineral blocks.

6.18.3 Kids are castrated in the end of May or early June before the appearance of flies and hot weather season starts.

6.19.1.1 Cashmere shall be harvested during the moulting season taking into account cashmere natural growth process. Cashmere fibre is harvested once a year by combing only.

6.19.1.2 Effective protective measures shall be taken during the cashmere harvesting process and goats shall be treated gently. In order to avoid accidental injury to the skin of goats during combing, the goats shall be properly restrained. It is necessary to minimize the restraining time to avoid stress and pain to the goat.

6.19.1.3 When harvesting cashmere, goats should be combed in this order: adult male castrated goats, unmated does, adult bucks, and unmated bucks. When laying a goat for combing, three legs shall be carefully tied, excluding one of the hind legs, to ensure free movement of the goat during cashmere harvesting.

6.19.1.4 Care shall be taken during the cashmere collection process to avoid damage to the skin of the goat. Special care shall be taken especially around the foreskin and scrotum of bucks and the udder of does.

6.19.1.5 If skin damage occurs during cashmere harvesting, it shall be treated promptly, and the injured goat shall be observed for a week to confirm recovery.

6.19.1.6 If the weather becomes cold after cashmere harvesting, the goats shall be covered with warm blanket or kept in the shed to avoid suffering from cold exposure.

6.20.1 Cashmere harvesting shall be carried out during the moulting season. Cashmere goats shed their down fibre from mid-March to early-June each year depending on annual climate conditions and ecological zones. Additional factors that affect shedding time are breed, age, environment, nutrition, physiology, and geography.

6.20.2 The best time to harvest cashmere is when the undercoat around the head, ears, and eyes of begin to moult, and when the roots of the down on the body begin to detach from the skin.

6.20.3 Cashmere shall be harvested during a period of warm and stable weather. Fibre harvesting shall be suspended in the case of extreme weather conditions.

6.21.1 Cashmere harvesting shall occur in a spacious area, free of pollution and noise.

6.21.2 Cashmere harvesting shall be carried out in a specially allocated shed (tent), which is spacious, has good lighting, is neither too hot or too cold, and is well-protected from wind.

6.21.3 Cashmere harvesting site shall be clean and shall have level ground. Canvas or other coverings free from petroleum-based materials shall be used to cover the ground.

6.21.4 Contaminants or foreign matter at the site shall be removed before cashmere harvesting. The cashmere harvesting site shall be cleaned the day before and every day after cashmere harvesting.

6.22.1 Cashmere harvesting workers(combers) shall receive training in harvesting technique and be aware of animal welfare, and they shall be proficient in goat handling.

6.22.2 Trained cashmere harvesting workers and cashmere grading and packaging personnel shall be present at the cashmere harvesting site to grade and to record cashmere harvesting data.

6.23.1 Combing devices shall be specific for goat cashmere combing. There are two types of combing devices: coarse-tooth and fine-tooth combs.

EXAMPLE: A coarse-tooth comb may have 12 teeth with a spacing of (1,0 to 1,5) cm. It is used for guard hair combing. A fine-tooth comb with 12 to 14 teeth spaced at (0,4 to 0,6) cm is used for combing body parts not suitable for coarse combing.

6.23.2 The sharpness of the comb tips shall always be checked before combing. The prongs of the comb shall be roundedto prevent skin damage.

6.24.1 Before combing long guard hair shall be clipped leaving a centimeter in length above the tip of the cashmere fibre so that the quantity of the guard hair is reduced during the combing.

6.24.2 Before combing, three legs shall be fastened but shall not be too tight to avoid restricting blood circulation.

6.24.3 The goat shall be laid down and stood up on the same side, to prevent sudden discomfort due to intestinal twisting and puffing when the goat rolls over.

6.24.4 During cashmere combing, the physical condition of the goat shall be observed at all times. In case of any discomfort (such as acute rumen inflation, intestinal volvulus, dyspnea, etc.), combing shall be halted immediately, the legs shall be untied, and assistance shall be provided to stand the goat up;

6.24.5 After restraining the goat, the fibre tips shall be cleaned and any grass, dung, and urine-stained fibre shall be removed by clipping.

6.24.6 The combing operation shall be performed skillfuly and smoothly. When combing wrinkled parts, the skin shall be stretched to make it as smooth as possible and shall be evenly combed in one go.

6.24.7 The cashmere shall be combed from the head, with even hand pressure. The comb shall be at an angle of 30° to 45° to the surface of the goat's body, combing shall go along the neck, shoulder, back, waist, thigh, abdomen, and other parts.

6.24.8 After combing with a coarse-tooth comb, combing against the fibre with a fine-tooth comb shall be performed if required.

6.24.9 The combing of one goat shall last no more than 30 minutes.

6.24.10 Cashmere shall be combed gently and steadily, close to the skin, quickly and evenly. Yanking or excessive pulling is prohibited to prevent damage to skin follicles.

6.24.11 After combing, the goat shall be released and returned to the flock as soon as possible.

Shearing is not recommended for nomadic cashmerte production system.

6.26.1.1 Cashmere shall be classified and packed according to the sex and age of goats, colours of fibre, and other cashmere fibre test results.

6.26.1.2 Natural textile fabric bags shall be used for packaging according to the classification of cashmere, and each bag shall be packaged until 30 kg. Petrolium based materials shall not be used for bags.

6.26.1.3 The packaging bag shall be marked with the goat owner's name, cashmere weight, ID ear-tag number, origin (e.g. province), fibre colour and any additional information.

6.26.2.1 The inspection of cashmere production of goats shall be carried out from March to April every year before cashmere combing.

6.26.2.2 Identification shall be carried out to determine these key parameters: ID number, geographic location of the herder, the sex and age of goat, coat colour, thickness and density of cashmere, and fibre length and fineness.

6.26.2.3 Local breeding sampling cashmere fiber, a hair cluster on the left side of the goat, from 2 cm to 10 cm rearward from the posterior edge of the shoulder blade, and from 1 cm to 2 cm above the midline of the body, shall be separated. The sample shall be used to measure the thickness and length of the staple only.

6.26.2.4 The fineness shall be determined by the visual inspection method, compared with referenced cashmere samples in the laboratory.

6.26.2.5 The objective measurement method shall be used to measure the mean fibre diameter of cashmere in breeding goat flocks, and the main stud buck and does in nucleus breeding flocks. A microscope (projector) shall be used to measure the mean fibre diameter, which shall be expressed in μm.

6.26.2.6 The density of cashmere shall be determined based on the elasticity of the fibre coat, the structure of the fibre cluster, and the skin space.

6.26.3.1 The parameter information of each goat shall be recorded in detail according to the test data and archived regularly.

6.26.3.2 In addition to information on packaging, other main information shall also be permanently archived with a unique number for easy traceability.

7.1.1 Transportation vehicles

7.1.2 The transportation vehicles shall pass annual inspection, operate normally with corresponding transportation qualifications.

7.1.3 It shall have guardrails and relevant facilities and equipment required for transportation safety, and each small fence in the carriage shall be equipped with a side door. Vehicle carrying area required for each goat is as follows: 0,4 m² to 0,5 m² for adult bucks and pregnant does; 0,3 m² to 0,4 m² for adult does; 0,2 m² to 0,3 m² for unmated goats.

7.1.4 All surfaces, loading ramps, and guardrails of transportation vehicles that may come into contact with goats shall be free of sharp edges or protrusions that may cause injury to the goats. The construction of each part of the transport vehicle shall be easy to clean and disinfect.

7.1.5 The bottom plate of the carriage of the transport vehicle shall be slip-resistant and provided with sufficient bedding material. The vehicle shall be disinfected and cleaned, and a vehicle transportation permit issued by the local quarantine department shall be obtained.

7.1.6 Goats to be transported to other places shall pass the quarantine inspection by the local animal quarantine department and have an animal quarantine certificate issued.

7.1.7 Goats shall be able to obtain sufficient drinking water before transportation. Goats shall not be fed within 4 hours before loading.

8.1.1 The carrier driver shall have a corresponding driving license to drive the transportation vehicle.

8.1.2 The driver shall be familiar with the transportation route, and has planned the driving route and emergency plan in advance. The personnel of the carrier vehicle shall carry the animal quarantine certificate and transportation permit for the vehicle.

9.1.1 Appropriate handling equipment shall be used to load and unload goat as horizontal as possible. The unavoidable ramps shall be as gentle as possible (the gradient shall not exceed 20, and slip-resistant measures shall be taken with safety fences.

9.1.2 The process of loading and unloading goat shall be carried out with minimal external force, and the goat shall be guided to enter and exit the transport vehicle by themselves as much as possible. It is not allowed to use rough methods to drive them away, and the noise shall be minimized as much as possible.

9.1.3 After arriving at the destination, the goat shall be unloaded timely and checked for injuries, if any. The goat can only be fed with a small amount of feed and drinking water after full rest. They cannot be provided with sufficient feed and drinking water at one time to ensure a safe transition of the goat.

9.1.4 There shall be several small stalls in the transport vehicle, and each stall shall have sufficient space for goat to stand up and lie down.

10.1.1 Prior to transition, different plans shall be prepared by considering information such as the transfer time, weather conditions, destination, transfer route, grazing on the way, drinking water, rest place, transportation of transfer equipment, and emergency situations etc.

10.1.2 During the transition, it is necessary to keep abreast of the weather conditions at all times and take effective measures to reduce injuries and stress to goats in various emergencies such as natural disasters and extreme weather conditions that may adversely affect animal welfare.

10.1.3 During long-distance transfers, the walking speed of the flock shall be controlled, and the feeding, drinking, and resting time of the goat shall be scheduled on the way. Sick or weak goats that are unable to follow the flock shall be treated timely, or placed in custody or transported by means of transportation. Kids and pregnant does shall be taken care of and not proceed too quickly.

11.1.1 The whole process of welfare-friendly farming, fibre collecting, transportation and slaughtering of cashmere goats shall be recorded, and all records shall be kept for traceability.

11.1.2 Evaluation and management to grazing land shall be recorded and the records shall be kept for at least 10 years.

11.1.3 Breeding goats’ archives in goat farms shall be kept permanently, information covers age, birth/death date, quantity, cashmere quality and production etc.

11.1.4 Key parameter information, including number, cashmere origin, colour, quality, strain, age, weight etc., shall be kept permanently.

11.1.5 Training records for personnel.

11.1.6 Health management records for cashmere goats, such as immunity, medication and disinfection etc.

11.1.7 All records in farms or ranches shall be kept for at least 3 years.

11.2.1 Each nomadic herder shall have assigned registration number recorded in national database and enter all required data on goat herd to ensure traceability of raw material origin. Key parameters, including herder identification number, goat herd, cashmere colour, quality, strain, age, weight etc., shall be kept in the system.

11.2.2 Veterinary services to the goat herd shall be recorded according to the calendar and monitored on a regular basis.

11.2.3 Adequate shelter and breeding management, additional nutrition supply shall be recorded and monitored on a regular basis.

11.2.4 Access to healthy seasonal rangelands, water and minerals shall be monitored annually with participation of herders and local authority.

11.2.5 Training needs assessments and provision records shall be kept at the cooperative level.

The killing of cashmere goats shall follow the “killing of animals for disease control purposes” ^[2].

Bibliography

[1] ISO 137, Wool — Determination of fibre diameter — Projection microscope method

[2] OIE TAHC. (World Organisation for Animal Wealth, Terrestrial Animal Health Code), chapter 7.6, https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/?id=169&L=1&htmfile=chapitre_aw_killing.htm

[3] Sustainable Fibre Alliance, SFA Cashmere Standard v 1.1, January 2023

[4] T/CAI 003-2019, Farm animal welfare requirements – Cashmere goat

[5] NY/T 2893-2016, Technical specification for feeding and management of cashmere goat

[6] DB54/T 0062-2012 Technical specification for Tibetan cashmere goat husbandry

[7] Sustainable Fibre Alliance, SFA Cashmere Standard v 1.1, January 2023