MORE ABOUT ANGORAS

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 56

MORE ABOUT ANGORAS

Having noticed some enquiries about Angora goats, Mr E. C. Keinpe, Warrina, Adelaide, South Australia, writes to Messrs Dalgety and Co. that probably it will be news to many to hear that there are a considerable number of pure Angoras in Central Australia. He has named his own flock ‘‘The Central Australian Flock of Pure Angoras.’’ Hie country where these goats are running is to the North of Lake Eyre. The country and climate suit them well, although the average rainfall for the la-t ten years has been only 3j inches. Undoubtedly in a barren land like this these creatures have come to stay, end will help the profitable settlement of so arid a region. The_particulars of the flock are i hatin 1897 I bought, through Mr C'. Sabine, and from Mr Price Maurice’s Castumbul Estate, one buck and two does, all pure bred. Mr Sabinie remarked in a note, “The animals I picked myself, and they are very nice.” These goats were railed up—o 34 miles—an expensive journey. In 1898, at the sale of the late Mr Price Maurice’s Angora flock, from the (Mstumbul Estate, I bought 144 head. Twenty of the set were bucks, one < specially selected. Two hundred and eighty-nine were sold on that day, that number, I believe, being the total of the flock. My goats have been kept are carefully culled every year, with the object of retaining the fine quality of the mohair, and have always been shepherded. Last year my mohair, somewhat affected by drought, sold in London, 17th October, for 14d. per lb for fleece, unclassed, locks for 7jd per lb. Merino fleece from this district m most caces, last year did not reach r‘ ’ muc, ‘ of ifc very much lower. In 1889 mohair from this flock sold in London. October, at best fleece, 2s per lb._; other, Is 6pi; locks, G’d. “Turkey Fair, ’ same sales, 20jd for fleece, in 1898 from same flock, fleece and locks mixed, Is fid per lb. Same sales, “Turkey Fair,’ sold at lGld for fleece. I quote these figures to show that mohair from my flock has held its own at the sales. What is necessary for the growth of the finest mohair is a dry, sunshiny climate. This we certainly have here The meat of the half-bred wether is preferred to ordinary mutton, if killed young. Last year I sold to a local butcher 100 wethers, half-bred, and lie meat was not objected to by any of 1 is customers. My flock now numbers GCO head of pure and grade goats; none but pure and selected bucks are used. Pure bucks are for sale from this flock. In my last account sales, rendered on account of sale of goat skins, one skin a, half-bred wether’s, brought 4s 3d. I think this a good price, and shows that 0,100 known the animal will he a profitable one. I shear my goats every eight months. They kid once a year. On the same subject, Mr C. Jcnkinson, a mejnber of the Queensland "arhainenfj also states that ho lias a letter from a settler m the Burnett district, mentioning that "more than 35 rears ago my parents brought common goats with them from New South Wales We crossed them with the Angora about four years ago, and now have some very good ones. If there were a law for the protection of the Angora, I would get

a pure bred buck and thus improve ~ fleece, making it of value for exim i® the lower grades not being 0 f value. Skins such as the one I you are worth 12s Gd each and general? they rango from 5s to £1 each in pri» We havo-as yet not sold any 0 f the nZ hair. Including kids, we ‘ havo’ aW 400 now. They are very easily kentaJ very healthy. Whilst the cattle wer! dying with ticks and red water, [(,„ goats were feeding all round thorn, a J were not in tho least affected, llor did we ever find a tick on them. The flesh of tho Angora is superior to mutton being finer in the grain, and that of tha kids is a great delicacy.”