The Angora Goat.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 149, 28 June 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Angora Goat.

In connection with the Angora boom now going on throughout America, Mr W. Molloy, in the Sydney Stock and Station Journal, remarks that to many in Australia the Angora goat is an unknown quantity, and it may come as a surprise that the Angora has been established in Australia since 1856, and small consignments have been imported from Asia Minor from time to time. In New South Wales little or nothing has been done to introduce them, and there is no doubt that in many parts the Angora would pay well. Angora, the capital of a Turkish province in the mountainous interior of Asia Minor, about 220 miles from Constantinople, is famous for the production of mohair, the long, silky, lustrous coat of the Angora.

The Angora's fleece is composed of two sorts of material —the one hairy and short and close to the skin; the other long and woolly and further from the skin. This is the valuable production. The Angora is a very hardy animal, and is a good ' rustler' for feed. They can stand more dry,

cold weather than most kinds of stock, but should always have a dry shelter during cold rain, as they like to ke^p their feet dry and cl an. They breed once a year, and usually have only one kid. TLi-y can be profitable crossed w'ub. ' the c mrnon goat, using a pure bred sire on the nanny, and one that is a good, strong animal, and of a good type and well fleeced. In crossing, care should be taken to select naunies with short haired coats, thus avoidii g getting the long, coarse hair mixed with the crossbred (mohair) fleece of the progeny. Color is of. little or no effect, as it usually breeds out in the first cross. Inter-breeding from ths pure bred pi re is an advantage. It takes three or four years to gc-t a really good hair from the cross. The first ccos3 bardiy pays to shear, but after that the hair has a commercial value. The sort-B vary in prices, and run much as follow :—Selected long 8 inch to 10 inch combing ; medium staple, 6 inches to 8 inches; kid and fine carding, 4 inches to 5 inches; short stock, less than 4 inches; and low crossbred. The average cut of pure bred goats is from 4ib to 6lb, but as high as 111b have been cut from first class goats. All grades can be run together and classed out at shearing time. The does, when about kidding time, should be kept separate from the rest of the flock. They are essentially browsers, and can do well in country that is absolutely useless f->r sheep or cattle. They eat all lauds of weeds aud shrubs, and ace most useful in clearing country overrun with weeds and scrub, and converting it into good useful grass land. Many farmers in the United States of America use them for the .purpose of clearing their land of scrub, which they do thoroughly, and at a lees cost and cleaner than by burning off and grubbing. They are not at all vicious animals, but can at the same time protect their young, to which they are attached, and make good mothers. Angora mutton is excellent eating, being wholesome and good ; and in America the 'venison' is marketed in large quantities. The pelts maks splendid leather, which I is used for various purposes, such as upholstering, bookbinding and for fine goods.