WATCH: Sensitive Goats Cry Out in Fear When Shorn for Cashmere

Cashmere knitwear and accessories fill stores during the festive period, but few people know how they’re made. This short video reveals the shocking treatment of goats in the wool industry.

Cashmere is the hair taken from the soft underbellies of cashmere goats, who are kept by the millions in China and Mongolia, which dominate the market for this “luxury” material. The animals’ living conditions are often filthy and crowded, and they may be dehorned and castrated without painkillers. One farmer admitted that shearing is “very stressful” for them and robs them of their natural insulation, leaving them vulnerable to cold temperatures and illness.

And they’re not the only ones who suffer because of this cruel industry. As the demand for cashmere has risen, farms have spread far and wide – and into the territories of endangered snow leopards. With their wild prey in decline, some big cats have turned to hunting the goats, which often leads farmers to respond by killing them.

The great news is that there’s plenty of soft and snug cruelty-free knitwear out there. You’ll find hundreds of options made from plant-derived or synthetic fabrics by a variety of designers and retailers – from high-street favourites such as Marks & Spencer, with its super-soft Cashmilon range, to accessory specialist Fraas, with its vegan Cashmink scarves. In fact, Cashmink is 20 per cent finer than cashmere in addition to being hypoallergenic, water-resistant, and eco-friendly.

If you already have cashmere items in your wardrobe, why not donate them as bedding to a local animal shelter? That way, they’ll be put to good use keeping animals warm as they wait for their permanent homes.

Help Spare Goats This Suffering

Persuade people to choose compassion over cashmere by sharing this video with your friends and family.