RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21288, 6 October 1934, Page 9

RABBIT FARMING

HARVESTING ANGORA WOOL 1 By REX. | The wool of Angora rabbits may be •harvested," that is to say, removed i'rom the body of the rabbit, either by plucking or clipping. Each method has its advantages and either will serve :for machine-spinning, for which purpose the great majority of the wool is destined. The greatest advantage of clipping is that it is not necessary to wait until the rabbit's coat becomes loose, as must obviously be done if the wool is to be plucked. As soon as the coat is between two and three inches in length, it may be clipped and thus less time and work in grooming is involved. When a rabbit is to bo clipped the following equipment is required:—A stool or table on which to stand the rabbit: four boxes or tins in which to put the wool (these should be distinctly marked 2, 3, 4, and 5 for the different grades of wool), the brush you usually rise in grooming, and a good pair cf sharp scissors. Place the rabbit on the lable and begin by giving him a thorough good brushing, carai'ully removing any pieces of straw, hay, bran, or other foodstuffs and any small specks of dust or dirt. Then remove all matted or cotted wool and place in the fifth grade box. When the, entire coat is clcanbrushed and all mats removed, then with the brush divide the coat down the middle line of the back and clip it along each side of ihc parting and clown the sides of the body. It is from these parts of the rabbit that the longest wool is obtained and all these clippings should go into the second-grade bcx. The wool from the breast, under parts, thighs, and tail is usually shorter Than that on the back and sides, and if, in clipping these parts you find the wool does not reach the required 21 inches, it should be put in the third grade box. When plucking by hand, go about 'the preliminaries in brushing and removing mats in exactly the same way as directed for clipping. Then pluck the coat, steadying the rabbit with your left hand and using the thumb and forefinger of the right to pluck with. Remove all wool which is loose, d.e, which can be plucked out easily by means of a gentle pull. Look Carefully at the wool as you pluck and see that none less than 2h inches in length goes into the second grade box. If the wool cannot be pbiCked without the exertion of undue force and if the process appears to cause the rabbit pain, the coat is net "ripe" for plucking. If plucking is done at the right time when the coat is "ripe" the operation is absolutely painless. Special Containers for Ansj'or.i Wool. It is very important that once Angora wool has been plucked or clipped, it should be stored in such a way as to ensure lis being in good condition when it reaches the buyer. In order to attain this end wool must be kept in containers which, as far as ''possible, exclude dust, damp, moths, and air. For, if any or all of these 'agents are allowed to gain access to a large or small quantity of Angora wool it will very soon deteriorate in quality; indeed, moths will soon make a whole consignment unsaleable. It is easy to understand why dust, damp, and moths must be excluded • from wool kept for any length of time, ■but it nuy occur to some to wonder 'why air should be harmful. Angora Woo], like all animal substances, has a considerable epiantity of water in its composition, besides natural oils. So long as the wool is on the rabbit, being part of a living creature, exposure to the air will not alter its 'appearance or quality, but once removed from its sources of growth and •nourishment, the action of the air v/ill tend to cause both the water ;:nd the •oil in it to drv vin gradually. This in time will spoil the appear-

ance of the wool; it will lose much of ils lustre and characteristic snowy whiteness and will become dull and dead-looking. It will also become less elastic and more brittle, and therefore not easy to spin. So the object to be aimed at when storing wool is to use something air and damp-proof to store it in and the containers which answer best to this purpose are those made of or lined with some kind of metal. Large biscuit tins, which can be obtained from the grocer, make excellent wool containers, and they have the advantage of being provided with tightly lilting lids. The best plan is to line your tin with tissue paper cut in two strips, the same width as the tin and slightly longer than its depth, so that the end's project over the sides of t1.3 tin. Then when you have your tin full it is easy to lift the wool out bodily in the paper without disarranging it. When sending wool by post, etc., strong cardboard boxes make the most suitable containers. They are light and also afford protection. It is not wise to send wool through the post packed only in paper. In the first place, paper is easily torn, and second pressure from larger and heavier parcels will cause the wool to "felt." consequently considerably decreasing its value. Breeders are reminded that entries for the rabbit section of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association show close on Tuesday, October IG. Arrangements are being made by the Co-operative R; bbit Breeders' Association for a conveyance of stock from Cliristchurch to this show. Schedules are now available at the office of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Worcester street, for the rabbit section of the forthcoming show.