The Prescott daily news., 1914-05-01
ANGORA GOAT RAISING
 PROFITABLE IN AMERICA
Refusal of Turkey and South Amer. ica to Permit Exports of Breed ing Stock no Longer Men
 ace to Growers Here

Washington, D. C., May 1.-The rais- ing of Angora goats in the United States IS now demonstrated success according to report just published by the United States Department of Agriculture under the title, "The An gora Goat" Farmers Bulletin 573. The industry, says the bulletin, is in deed so well established here that growers need not be inconvenienced by the action of South Africa in pro hibiting the eXportation 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 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 focks, the Southwest and the Northwest are es- pecially well 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 grow unchecked, might easily become dangerous fire trap. Thus it is often said that the Angora works and pays for it's board at the same time.
 It 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 it's price varied wildly from year to year. This condition, however, is rapidly chang ing as new uses for mohair are con- tinually found, from automobile tops and table covers to dress goods and curled false hair, and to-day the grow CT is assured of reasonably steady market. The price of course varies with the quality, the very best fleeces bringing on an average from 42 to 55 cents a pound. The weight of a fleece has a very wide range but in 1909 the average for Oregon was found to be 37 pounds and for Texas 1855. On account of the greater heat. however, and the damage of shedding Angoras in the Southwest are ire quently shOrn twice a year-a fact which must be taken into considera- tion in all calculations.
 This practice of clipping twice a year Is Tn many ways drawback to the industry since it tends to lower the average grade of American mo- hair Mohair as good as any, can be and is grown in this country but the average quality is not to-day consid- cred to be as good as the foreign. About 2,000,000 pounds are annually 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 below this standard. Where the fleece is allowed to grow for twelve months, the average length is 10 inches and in the best hocks it is not unusual to get 15 to 20 inches. Romeo, the sweepstakes buck at the Fl Paso show in 1910, is an example of what is possible. His fleece weighed Is pounds measured 20a4 inches in length and sold for S115. Such fleece is rot of course the product of ordinary :,m mercial conditions. It implies con- siderable amount of care and person al attention.
 The birth rate is approximately 65 per cent but in well 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 industry during the breeding season. The best methods of caring for the flock at this Ii ne are discussed in some detail in the new bulletin. Otherwise the manage ment of Angoras does not differ great