ANGORA RABBITS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 10

ANGORA RABBITS.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —The members o. the Sheepowners’ Union seem to be greatly exercised about the importation of “that vermin,” to wit, Angora rabbits. They appear to have an altogether erroneous idea concerning them, and in the hopes of allaying their fears I am sending you a few facts about them. In the first place, they are not from Belgium, but are British. As for their running wild, thereby causing sheepowners severe heartburnings and work to exterminate them, that is very unlikely to happen, for several reasons. They cost £6 each for partly-improv-ed rabbits to £9 each for improved stud breeders. Their fur grows to the length of nine inches in a year, so what chance would they have of surviving with that length of fur catching in shrubs, etc. They do not take foot and mouth disease, and are kept in hutches. I am taking two of the consignment imported, and am housing them in hutches, which in turn are enclosed in a shed with wire-netting front with half-inch mesh to keep out mice, rats, ferrets and other enemies, although provision is made for the lastnamed, which appear to be human, by a door with lock and key. The floor is concrete, and when it is erected I will send Mr Editor a photo for publication in the “Star.” It will give the members of the Farmers’ Union an idea of the precautions taken to prevent a loss among the rabbits by escaping. Mr Burbury is determined to exterminate them. How? There are laws against trespass, I believe, and damaging another person’s property, pests notwithstanding, and he is not likely to find any wandering over “Sherwood.” It; is creating a new industry for

New Zealand (don’t sneer, please). Certainly it is only in its infancy and there is only one mill handling ihe wool at Derwent Woollen Mills, Matlock, England. The i l abbitvS are shorn four times a year, when the wool is two to three inches long. I refer anyone interested, in exterminating or otherwise, to a book, “Angora Wool for Profit in New Zealand,” by A. G. Sainsbury, editor “Smallholder,” Auckland, who is also responsible for the importation of the rabbits and will no doubt be glad to answer any questions concerning them. The rabbits leave England after inspection by a health officer, and are guaranteed from a district free from foot and mouth disease, or any disease, and the quarantine laws in New Zealand are strict now. There are a large number of rabbit farms in England, Lady Rachel Byng, Lady Carter, Colonel Richardson being a few of those owning farms of 1000 rabbits or more.

Inferior Angora rabbits are being sold in Auckland and other cities in the North Island. No, I will not give any addresses. They might be “exterminated.” An Angora rabbit’s wool is worth about £2 per lb, and the four shearings a year give about lib of wool.

Angoras should not be confused with French rabbits. The latter are of no use commercially. According to reports, the common wild rabbits are nearly exterminated and trappers are bewailing the fact, as they are deprived of a lucrative living; so there you

In conclusion, I extend an invitation to all and sundry who are interested in exterminating the pest to visit my place and judge for themselves whether Angoras can be classed under the heading of vermin or profitable industry. Cheer up, Mr Burbury and members of the Sheepowners’ Union. Angora rabbits will not affect, adversely, your bank account or your properties.—l am, etc., PROSPECTIVE ANGORA RABBIT FARMER.