The Cecil Whig., 1914-09-12
Raising Of AngOra
Goats Pays Well

The raising of Angora goats in the
United States is a demonstrated sue
cess, according to a report just pub
lished by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, under the title
"The Angora Goat" 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 Africa in pro-
hibiting the expectation of Angoras,
for the quantity of good blood in this
country is already sufficient to meet
all requirements. In the opinion of
experts, the best American fleeces
squal any grown in South Africa or
Asia Minor, the original home of the
Angora.
Although nearly every State in the
Union possesses its fiocks, the South
west and the Northwest are especial
ly we'll adapted to the industry; in
particular, the large areas recently
logged off in the Northwest. There
the Angora not only thrives himself,
but helps to clear away the brush
which, if allowed to go unchecked,
might easily become dangerous fire
trap. Thus it is often said the An
CORA works and pays for its board at
the same time.
Value of Mohair Increasing.
1t is paying more and more, for the
value of the fleece or mohair is in
creasing steadily. Formerly the use
of mohair depended so largely upon
the prevailing fashion that its price
varied widely from year 20 year. This
condition, however, is rapidly chang
ing, as new uses for mohair are con-
tnually found, from automobile tops
and table covers to dress goods and
curled false hair, and today the grow
er is assured of a reasonably steady
market. The price, of course, varies
with the quality, the very best fleece
bringing on an average from 42 to 80
cents pound. The weight of a fleece
has a very wide range, but in 1909 the
average for Oregon was found to be
81 pounds and for Texas l.S5. On
account of the greater heat, however.
and the damage of shedding, Ang"ras
in the Southwest are frequently shorn
twice a year-a fact which must he
taken into consideration in all calcu-
lations.
Eat Brush From New Lands.
Settlers in the Northwest find the
Angora most serViceable in browsing
off the brush on their new lands and
one interurban railway company pur-
chased flock to keep its right of way
clear and attractive. On very rough
land the danger of injury to the fleece
must, however, be kept in mind
AS has already been said, the An
CORA can be bred sufficiently pure for
practical purposes from the stock al
ready in this country and there is no
need of further importations for
breeding purposes. Some years ago,
however, this was not believed to be
Turkey endeavored to preserve for his
domnions the live animal. His exam
pie was followed by South Africa. but
it was too late. Some of the best
blood was already in America and to-
day other countries are buying of US,
flocks having been shipped recently to
Brazil and Argentina.
Various associations have already
been formed for the development Of
the industry in this country and the
quantity of the annual product is in
creasing rapidly. In 1913 it is esti-
mated that 100000 pounds of mohair
We're grown in the United States.
Fuller details of the management and
care of focks are to be found in far
mers' bulletin 573, "The Angora Goat"
which will be sent free on applica-
tion to the Department Of Agriculture.