HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
13
Angora Goat Raising in America
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f HE raising of Angora goats in the
I United fetates is now a denionstrat
cd buccoss, according to a report
Just published by the United States De
partment of Agriculture, under the title,
"The Angora Uoat," Farmers' Bulletin
573. The industry, says the bulletin, is
indeed so well established here that
growers need not be inconvenienced by
the action of South America in prohib
iting the exportation of Angoras, for
Die quantity of good blood in this coun
try is already sufficient to meet all re
quirements. In the opinion of experts
the' best American fleeces now equal
any grown in South Africa or Asia Mi
nor, the original home of the Angora.
Although nearly every state in the
Union now possesses its flocks, the
Southwest and the Northwest are espe
cially well adapted to the industry, in
particular the large areas recently log
ged off in the Northwest. There the
Angora not only thrives himself, but
helps to clear away the brush which, if
allowed to grow unchecked, might easily
become a dangerous lire trap, Thus it
is often seid that the Angora works and
pays for its board at the same time.
; Value of Fleece Increasing.
It .is paying more and more, for the
Value of the flocee or mohair is increas
ing steadily. Formerly the use of mo
tair depended so largely upon the pre
.Tailing fashion that its price varied
widely frpm year to year. This condi
tion, however, is rapidly changing as
new uses lor mohair are continually
found, from automobile tops and tabic
covers, to dress goods and curled false
hair, and today the grower is assured
cf a reasonably steady market. The
price, of course, varies with the quality,
the very best fleeces bringing on an av
erage from 42 to 55 cents a pound. The
weight of a fleece has a very wide
range, in 1909 the average for Oregon
was found to be 3.7 pounds and for Tex
6s 1.85. On account of the greater heat,
Iiowever, and the damage of shedding,
Angoras in the Southwest are frequently
ehorn twice a year a fact which must
be taken into consideration in all cal
culations. This practice of clipping twice a year
is in many ways a drawback to the in
dustry, since it tends to lower the aver
age grade of American mohair. Mohair
as good as any can be and is grown in
this country, but the averago quality is
not today considered to be as good as the
foreign. About 2,000,000 pounds are an
nually imported. Ordinarily this is
blended and spun with the domestic
product. Six inches is the shortest
length of fleece usually desired, and
because of shearing twice a year, much
Texas and New Mexico mohair falls bo
low this standard. Where the fleece is
allowed to grow for twelve months, the
average length is 10 inches, and in the
best flocks it is not unusual to get 15
to 20 inches. Romeo, the sweepstakes
buck at the El Paso show in 1910, is an
example of what is possible. His fleece
weighed eighteen pounds, measured
twenty and three-fourths inches in
length and sold for $115, Sueh fleece is
not, of course, the product oi ordinary
commercial conditions. It implies a con
siderable amount of care and personal
attention.
High Birth Rate.
The birtu rate is approximately 65 per
cent, but in wU managed flocks this
has risen on occasions as high as 120 per
cent. Since the kids are not hardy, it
is obvious that this means skill and in
dustry during the breeding season. The
best methods of caring for the flock at
this time are discussed in some detail in
the new bulletin. Otherwise the man
agement of Angoras does not differ
gTeatly from that of Bheep.
While the Angora goat needs atten
tion, it is adaptable and as far as tem
perature is concerned should flourish in
any part of the United States. In Mon
tana the flocks face the heavy snow
falls with equanimity as long as a dry
place is provided for tuem at night, and
though the heat in the Southwest fre
quently makes it necessary to shear
them twice a year in order to prevent
shedding, it does not otherwise affect
the health of the floeks. Dampness,
however, is more injurious than either
cold or heat. High lands is the native
home of all goats, and they invariably
Beck it when left to themselves. Pure
water is also an essential.
Otherwise the Angora is not particu
lar. It will feed with cattle also. As
a matter of fact, however, the goat prc
ftrs a certain amount of rough pasture
and is particularly happy when cleaning
Bp broth land There la one instance
of a flock of 600 being allowed free
grazing in a California forest reserve in
order to keep the strips of eleared land.
kaown as fire-breaks, free from weeds '
and vegetation. Settlers in the North
west find the Angora most serviceable
in browsing eff the brush on their new
lands, and one railway company pur
chased a floek to keep its right-of-way
ciear ana attractive, un very rougnj
land the danger of injury to the fleece
must, however, be kept in mind.
Importations Not Needed.
As has already been said, the Angora--can
be bred sufficiently pure for prac- j
tical purposes from the stock already in i
this country, and there is no need of ,
further importations for breeding pur- j
poses. Some years ago, however, this;
was not believed to be the case, and in
1881 the Sultan of Turkey endeavored!
to preserve for his dominion the monop- j
oly of the mohair trade by prohibiting :
the exportation of the live animal. His
example was followed by South Africa!, '
but it was too late. Some of the best
blood was already in America and today ,
other countries are buying of ns, flocks j
having been shipped recently to Brazil
and tho Argentine. !
Various associations have already j
been formed for the development of the ;
industry in this country, and the qnan- j
tity of the annual product is increasing :
rapidly.
i
Nam work a team of colts together until
they aro thoroughly broken, they vill
worry each other.
, -?s C
M F V : V
Malt Rainier is the Pure Malt Tonic
For Mothers Who Require Additional
Nourishment and Strength.
ABE YOUR PHYSICIAN1 -For
0Jo by Ail Drugglsta
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