RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21354, 22 December 1934, Page 8

RABBIT FARMING

ANGORA WOOL MARKETS RENEWED ACTIVITY [By Mr W. G. Wright, President of the N.Z. Angora Wool Producers' It cannot be denied that Angora wool production in New Zealand has, during the last five years, attracted large numbers of people to try their i fortunes in this pleasant occupation. Equally true is it that numbers of disappointed farmers have been decided failures and have quickly gone out of the industry. Man, all the world over, seeks to cover up his own mistakes, blunders, and inefficiencies by attributing them to some cause over which he has no control, and so it is not surprising to find in the Angora wool industry numbers of unsuccessful breeders blaming the markets for their failure, when, in fact, such failures have been entirely due to their own mismanagement. It is admitted that mismanagement is sometimes the result of the breeder being "a square peg in a round hole." Many have commenced rabbit farming without ever considering the question of their suitability or adaptability for such an occupation. Many have had inadequate land for growing the necessary food, many were entirely devoid of any knowledge of "animal culture," and only very few possessed the very necessary farming experience. The most glaring failures, however, were made by those, who, thinking that the industry was an easy road to fortune, commenced with the sole intention of breeding Angoras for sale, and not with the idea of wool production. This branch of the industry is a highly specialised one, and success demands many years of the study of "animal genetics," thorough feeding methods, and a plentiful supply of business ability. Here again was to be found a long trail of definite failures, I until to-day it is gradually dawning on those remaining in the industry that the production of Angora wool is a farming pursuit, and only those with a natural inclination for this work and with sufficient land and selected stock, can hope to attain any degree of success. Yet whenever we meet a former rabbit farmer, a failure, we hear the same old persistent cry that the unsound Angora market is the cause of his downfall. Now, it is admitted that the marketing of any produce plays a vitally important part in the success of any industry. The world knows that it is possible for man to produce from the earth in abundance, but very few have the ability and the knowledge to "market" that "abundance" to financial advantage. And ?o with this industry, once produced, the marketing of Angora wool requires the best brains, if the interests of itie breeders are to be protected. For six years the principal object or mv federation has been to provide sound markets for Angora wool, and from trit; following facts it will be proved that we have achieved a great 'measure of success where all ethers have failed. Shortly after the introduction of the industry to New Zealand, the market for Angora wool in England totally collapsed. In 1929, however, the market revived and my federation instituted . a marketing scheme for members whereby wool was dispatched monthly to English mills, breeders receiving 50 per cent, of the value of their wool on dispatch and the balance on receipt of returns from the mills; prices ranging from 5s to 30s per lb according to grades. For two years prices remained steady, and in November, 1931, the marketing agency, the New Zealand Fur and Angora Wool Producers, was formed by producers and immediately offered increased prices, and the full cash price to suppliers on receipt of wool at the depot in Christchurch. This created a great impetus m the industry, attracting all manner of persons into the ranks, but only with the disastrous results before referred to. In 1932 there was a drop of about 10 per cent, in Angora wool prices, but the increased rate of exchange in favour of New Zealand producers counterbalanced this. At the same time the mills announced that they would not require so muah of the longer staple Angora for which the very high prices were being paid. They preferred second and third grades in large quantities at prices ranging from lis 6d to 18s per lb, here in Christchurch from our depot. It was found that by concentrating on producing these shorter grades, producers could clip more frequently and get a greater output with considerably less grooming. Furthermore Angoras clipped for these grades could be run in colonies instead of all in separate hutches. This Change in the mills' requirements was therefore heralded as a boom to all producers. Our marketing agents, entered into a very valuable contract with one of the most financial Angora mills in England, and while other buyers of Angora wool since ceased operations, and most English milb temporarily refused to accept any further consignments, our market remained open and our prices for second and third grades have remained firm for the last two years. Certainly it is true that apart from our organisation, the market for Angora wool has been dead during the last nine months, and practically all English mills apart from our buyers closed down. In short, to outside producers the Angora market both here and in England totally collapsed, but thanks to our organisation, our members have continued to market their Angora wool in increasing quantities. The financial requirements of our cash marketing scheme are indeed a great burden, especially in view of the ever increasing supplies of Angora, but this difficulty is merely temporary, and the most important fact is that our market is sound, and the prospects good. In fact we have only just received advice of renewed activity in the Angora world.' The other mills are now reopening to suppliers and we are now asked by our mill to increase our exports as quickly as possible. But a final warning! Angora wool producers have yet to learn that they are entirely in the hands of the mills, and must produce the grades of wool required by them. To a very large extent the fluctuations in the demand for Angora by most of the English mills can be attributed to the stupid persistence of breeders in producing grades of Angora not required. Today the mills require mostly secondgrade fine wool, and by this I mean, of course, second grade according to length, and not in quality, and it is no use suppliers sending 25 per cent, seconds and 75 per cent, matted wool. It may be a eurprise to many to know that more than 60 per cent, of the total wool sent by New Zealand suppliers to our organisation is matted and dirty, and this Is entirely due to mismanagement and neglect by the producers. If producers will take the production of Angora wool seriously, devote the necessary time and attention and study the requirements and produce for them, there is no reason whatever why they cannot command the top prices for the whole of their output of Angora and make their occupation pleasant anl profitable. Indeed with the new increased demand, I believe we can look to 1935 for a year of I greater prosperity for genuine Angora wool producers.