Commerical fibre-goat farming has grown in the last 10 years from nil to 1.25 million goats on 9437 farms producing $13.7m fibre income. Development has come through having potentially highly productive goats, mains-powered electric fences to control them, investment capital from outside the industry, and pioneer dedication that also produced an integrated fibre handling and marketing operation, all managed by adaptable and innovative hill country farmers. Goat husbandry and management, including breeding, fibre handling, stocking rates, pasture and weed feeding, need a different attitude and philosophy to those needed for sheep and cattle traditionally farmed on hill country. Fast industry growth has outstripped relevant information and the farm management profession has assisted farmers to develop techniques and systems. Research is now producing some reasons for applied practices. Numbers of farmed goats are expected to continue to increase. Each hill country farm can have a profitable doe and wether flock integrated into sheep and cattle management. Keywords pasture, mohair, cashmere, cashgora, weed control
