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History

The Angora goat gets its name from the region where they were first found and raised, the area is now known as Ankara on the central Anatolian plains of Turkey.  There is record of raising fleece-bearing goats in the area since the fifteenth century BC. Some were known for their long white fleece from which brilliantly dyed fabrics were woven. The Angora was highly prized in Turkey and export of these unique animals and their fibre was under tight control.  Various exports of breeding animals took place into Europe and other countries without successfully establishing mohair production.  In the early to mid 1800's successful importations by the USA and South Africa established mohair production in these countries.  These two countries then went on to dominate world production for much of the 20th century.  South Africa currently produce over 60% of the worlds mohair.

Angora Does at Clive van Hasselt's property in the Little Karoo, South Africa

History in Australia

Importations of Angora genetics into Australia occurred in  1832 from France and 1853 from Turkey, there were later importations from South African and the USA.  Numbers in Australia increased over the second half of the 19th century but by the early part of the 20th century interest had waned in mohair production and many flocks were dispersed.  Interest in Angoras increased in the 1960s and there was a rapid expansion of mohair production in the 1970s on the back of high world prices for mohair.  At the height of this boom, strong interest from New Zealand boosted animal prices to exceptionally high levels.  As with any boom, then came the bust as world mohair prices declined and New Zealand breeders ceased buying stock.  Since this time the industry has been maturing into one based on commercial production of mohair from animals at realistic prices.  The Australian Angora in the 1970s & 80s was inferior to the Angora that had been developed by South African and USA breeders.  New importations of genetics from USA and South Africa took place over the late 1980s and early 1990s rapidly increasing the quantity and quality of mohair grown on Australian animals.  Importations from South Africa and USA occur from time to time under strict quarantine laws as Australian breeders strive to produce the best mohair in the world.

Angora does off shears grazing in spring at Mallee Park     

Breed Description

 Angora goats are white and have a single-coated fleece which is called mohair. Mohair is the primary product from running Angora goats although surplus stock are sold into the growing Australian goat meat trade.  Mohair grows at the rate of about 2.5cm per month and as textile mills require fibre around 15cm long, Angoras are shorn twice per year.   Fleece weights for mature Angoras vary from 2.5 to 4 kg, making the annual production about 5 to 8 kg per animal.  

Angoras like all goats are ruminants and have a higher preference for woody plants than sheep and consume more browse if given the opportunity.  They will however perform extremely well on pasture as long as enough roughage is either present in the sward or is supplied in the form of straw or other hay.

Mohair a unique fibre