Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-08
ANC0RA COAT IS
A MONEY MAKER
Can Be Raised Probably in
America 1t Has Been Con-
clusively Shown.

success 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 bullet:-.
Is indeed so well established here that
growers need not be inconvenienced
by the action OF South Africa in prohib-
iting the expectation OF Angoras. for
the quantity OF good blood in this
country IS already sufficient TO meet
al requirements. In the opinion OF
experts the best American feeces now
equal any grown in South Africa or
Asia Minor, the original home of the
Angora.
Although nearly every state in the
union now possesses It's hocks. the
southwest and the northwest are es-
pecially we'll adapted 20 the industry.
in particlar the large areas recently
logged-off in the northwest. There
the AngOra not only thrives himself
but helps 10 clear away the brush.
which If allowed TO grow unchecked.
might easily become a dangerous fire
trap. Thus il is often said that the
Angora works and pays for it's board
at the same time.
II is paying more and more. for the
value OF the fleece or mohair is increas-
ing steadily. Formerly the use of mo-
hair depended so largely upon the pre-
vailing fashion that its price varied
widely from year to year. This con-
dition. however. is rapidly changing,
as new uses for mohair are continually
found. from automobile tops and table
covers to dress goods and cIrled IA Sc
hair. and today the grower is assured
of a reasonably steady market. The
price of course varies with the quality.
the very best feeCes bringing on an
average from ~ TO 50 cents pound
The weight Of fleece has very wide
range. but in 1909 the average from
Oregon was found TO be 81 pounds
and for Texas 1-S5- On account of the
greater heat. however. and the damage
Of shedding. Angoras in the southwest
are frequently shorn twice a year-a
fact which must be taken into consid-
Grafton in all calculations.
This practice of clipping twice a
year is in many ways a drawback to
the industry since ii tends 70 lower the
average grade OF American mohair
Mohair az good as any can be and is
grown in this country. but the average
quality is not today considered To be as
good as the foreign. About 1000 1000
pounds are annually imported. Ordin-
arily 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 below this stand |
ard. Where the fleece is allowed TO /!
grow for IL months the average I
length is 10 inches. and in the best I
hocks IL IS not unusual 10 get Is TO 20 4
inches. Romeo. the sweepstakes buck I
at the Fl PasO show in 1910. is an ex-
ample OF what is possible. His fleece 1
weighed IS pounds. measured 2Oas
inches in length and sold for S1I5.
Such fleece is not Of course the product
Of ordinary commercial conditions. II
implies a considerable amount OF care
and personal attention.
The birth rate Is approximately So
per cent, but in well managed focks
his has risen on occasions as high as
l20 per cent Since the kids are not
hardy. it IS obvious that this means
XII and industry during the breeding
eason. The best methods of caring
or the flock al this time are discussed
n some detail in the new bulletin.
otherwise the management OF An
'oras does not differ greatly from that
II sheep.
While the Angora goat needs atten-
ion, IL is adaptable, and as far as tenn.
'erature Is concerned should flourish
4 any part OF the United States. In
Montana the hocks face the heavy
nowfalls with equanimity as long as
dry place is provided for them at
light, and though the heat in the
outhwest frequently makes It seces-
airy to sheer twice a year IN order to
revent shedding. IL does not otherwise
hect the health OF the focks. Damn
ess, however. IS more injurious than
ither cold or heat. High land is the
ative home Of all goats and they in
ariably seek IL when left to them
elves Pure water is also an essen
al.
lar. IL Will feed with cattle and sheep.
nd. though in some danger OF being
licked. with horses also. AS a matter
fact however, the goat prefers
ertain amount OF rough pasture, and
particularly happy when clearing
rush land. There is one instance of
flock Of 500 being allowed free gazz-
q in Californa forest reserve in r
der 10 keep the strips OF cleared land,
lovn as fire breaks. free from weeds
Id vegetation. Settlers In the north
est find the ADgora most seryicea-
e in browsing OF the brush on their
~ lands. and one railway company
released a flock 10 keep its right OF
~ clear and attractive. On very
ugh land the danger OF injury by the
zee must however he Kent in mind