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Changthangi is a medium size breed of goat found in the cold, arid region of Ladakh in India at an altitude of 3000 m in the Transhimalayan region. Phenotypic description of body conformation and production parameter of the breed are given. Adult males weighed 29.8 +/- 0.3 kg at 3 years of age, and females attained a similar body weight (29.2 +/- 0.3 kg) at 4 years of age. Least square means +/- SE of pashmina (Kashmir-cashmere) yields year(-1) in adult goats at first, second, third, fourth and fifth clips were 78 +/- 6 g, 159 +/- 9 g, 227 +/- 9 g, 191 +/- 10 g and 195 +/- 20 g, respectively. The coefficient of heritability of pashmina yield in the first clip at 1 year of age was high (0.91 +/- 0.51). A breeding plan is envisaged to improve the pashmina yield of Changthangi goats in their native habitat. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.