We have found Angora goats are delightful because of their fiber being so useful and their
fun loving personality. We were interested in the Angora goat for several years and did the
research to learn more about them. Then, in 2006 we found some quality Angora goats that we
believed would be an asset to us and added them to the farm. We have not been disappointed!
We are thoroughly enjoying the company of these lovable animals. We've also enjoyed learning
ways to use their fiber. The Angora breeders we've met are among the nicest and most helpful
of the many goat breeds we have contacted.
Characteristics of Angora Goats
Compared to the dairy goat, angoras are more docile. They have a gentler personality and are considered less active.
Angora goats love to browse, among their favorite things to eat are tree leaves and branches and weeds. They also do well on a diet of hay and grain. Loose trace Minerals are a necessity for good health and should be available at all times. The goats will get the minerals as they need them. Clean water should be made available at all times as with any animal.
Weight for an angora at birth can be between 4 and 8 lbs. At maturity, a doe can weigh between 75 and 100 lbs and a buck between 80 and 125 lbs.
Angora colors range from white to black (deep black to
grays and silver), red and brownish.
Angora goats make a wonderful farm addition. Besides using their fiber for
hand spinning, these goats are gentle by nature and are easy to handle. Their personalities can be entertaining and fun loving, this only adds to their wit and charm.
Important note: Goats are naturally herd animals and do not do well alone. They should have one or more companions with them at all times. Leaving a goat alone can cause stress and sickness.
Harvesting Mohair
Angora goats are best known for their wonderful fleece known as mohair. A mature angora can produce 10 -16 lbs. per yr. Angoras should be shorn two times a year. September and March are excellent months for shearing. The spring shearing produces more hair than the fall. Shearing in March before kidding makes a it easier for a newborn to find mom's udder and warmth from mom is easily transferred to the kid. Kid fleece is considered to be more valuable than adult fleece and will bring a higher price. Adult mohair should be kept
separate from kid mohair for this reason. As a goat matures, the fleece becomes course and less valuable.
Important note: After shearing, the goat is
susceptible to developing hypothermia. Sufficient housing should be available for protection from the cold.
Health
Angoras and sheep tend to have
similar diseases and parasite problems. Kids tend to get coccidiosis easily. Other sicknesses can include pneumonia, urinary
calculi and overeating. A CD&T shot is given once a year to prevent tetanus and overeating (this a a 1 shot combination.) There are ways to keep the animals healthy and happy such as quality herd management to help control diseases, and for internal and external parasites a good worming program is necessary.
Having a good veterinarian who is experienced with goats is highly recommended.
Colored Angora Goats
Colored angora goats are generally classified in two categories: one being black and the other is red. Black angora goats include deep black to light
grays and silvers. Colors on angoras can also be referred to as "patterns" which is a mix of colors on a goat. For more information about colored angora patterns visit:
http://www.cagba.org/patterns.shtml.
Reds are typically a solid color. Sometimes red angora goats are referred to as "faded red" because the red color has lightened as the goat ages. Not all reds fade. The red color can range from apricot to copper.
Cashmere is a description of goat. It is not an actual breed. Cashmere have been carefully bred to produce cashmere fiber. It is called " the prized fiber of kings."
All goats with the exception of Angora produce two coats of fiber. Of the two coats are the course outer guard hair and a second or down coat that is shed seasonally. The fiber, a soft downy undercoat is considered Cashmere when a low luster is obtained also a nice crimp and the fiber less than 19 microns in diameter. The animals grow their fiber in the winter and shed them in the spring. In the spring is when combing or shearing should be done. The fiber is sent out commercially to be dehaired and is then ready for spinning. There are many colors in cashmere. Colors range from white to black and all shades in between.
Most of the cashmere goats in the U.S. are from feral
Australian and Texas stock. They are also knows as A Spanish Meat Goat or Spanish Type Goat. They are mild mannered in nature.
Cashmere are easy to raise. They take very little care. They make wonderful pets. We love our cashmere goats. These goats do well on pasture and brush. A nice three to four sided shelter is all that is required. A dry floor is necessary to help prevent hoof problems and help kids from becoming too cold. In building a fence, five strands of electric fencing will work fine. Sheep fencing also works very well. Woven wire fence can be used with 12" squares.
Cashmere does have natural maternal instinct and kid easily. They usually have twins. The young kids hurry to their feet and nurse almost immediately after birth. They are so adorable. Soon after, they are out in the field running, jumping and playing. Many cashmere breeders wean the kids at 3 months of age.
Cashmere Fiber can be used for knitting, hand spinning and weaving. Cashmere is considered to be the most luxurious fiber in the world.
For cashmere goat inquiries contact Sheila Johnson
at
cashmereinfo@meadowbluefarm.com
