The overproduction of many traditional forms of agricultural production in the EEC has stimulated an interest in alternative land-use enterprises. Of these, non-food products such as animal fibres are of particular interest, although it must be borne in mind that these too will generate meat as a by-product. Fibre production from a number of animal species is being examined in different countries throughout the world; this paper is concerned with fibre production from only the goat and sheep.