Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-06-18

The raising of Angora goats in the
United States Is now demonstrated
success. The industry is indeed SO
we'll established here that growers
need not be inconvenienced by the ac-
ton of South Africa in prohibiting
the expectation of Angoras. for the
quantity of good blood in this country
Is already sufficient to meet all re-
quirements. In the opinion of experts
the best American fieeces now equal
any grown in South Africa or Asia
Minor, the original home of the An
CORA.
Although nearly every state in the
Union now possesses Its focks, the
Southwest and the Northwest are es-
/ pecially well adapted to the indus
try, in particular the large areas re-
Gently logged off in the Northwest
There the Angora not only thriyes
himself but helps to clear away the
brush which If allowed to grow un-
checked, might easily become a dan
gerous fire trap. Thus it is often said
that the Angora works and pays for
its board at the same time.
1t is paying more and more, for the
4 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 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 today the grow
er is assured of a reasonably steady
market. The price, of course, varies
with the quality, the very best feeces
| bringing on an average from forty-two
to fifty-five cents pound. The
weight of a fleece has very wide
range but in 1909 the average for Ore
gon was found to be 81 pounds and
for Texas 1.S5. On account of the
greater heat, however, and the dam
age of shedding, Angoras in the
southwest are frequently shorn twice
year--a fact which must be taken
into consideration in all calculations.
1 This practise of clipping twice a
year is in 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 today consid-
cred to be as good as the foreign.
About two million pounds are annual
ly imported. Ordinarily this is blend
ed and spun with the domestic prod
uct. Six inches is the shortest length
of fleece usually desired and, because
of shearing twice year, much Texas
and New Mexico mohair falls below
this standard Where the fleece is al
4 lowed to grow for ~ months, the aver
age length is ten inches and In the
| best flocks 1t is not unusual to get flf-
teen to twenty inches. Romeo, the
sweepstakes buck at the Ell Paso show
In 1910, is an example of what is
possible. His fleece weighed 10
pounds, measured 20A inches in
length and sold for $115. Such fleece
is not, of course, the product of or
binary commercial conditions. 1t i'm
plies a considerable amount of care
and personal attention.
The birth rate is approximately SIS
per cent but in well managed fiocks
this has risen on occasions as high
as 100 per cent. Since the kids are
not hardy, it is obvious that this
means skill and industry during the
breeding season. The management of
Angoras does not differ greatly from
that of sheep.
While the Angora goat needs atten-
ton it is adaptable, and as far as tenn
perature is concerned, should flourish
in any part Of the United States. In
Montana the fiocks face the heavy
snowfalls with equanimity as long as
a dry place is provided for them at
night and though the heat in the
Southwest frequently makes 1t neces-
sa-y to shear twice "a year in order
to prevent shedding, 1t does not 9TH
erwise affect the health of the fiocks
Dampness, however, is more injurious
than either cold or heat High land is
the native home of all goats, and they
invariably seek 1t when left to them
selves. Pure water is also an essen
tial
Otherwise the Angora is not partIcu-
lar 1t will feed with cattle and sheep,
and, though in some danger Of being
kicked, with horses also AS matter
of fact, however. the goat prefers a
certain amount OF roagh pasture and
is particularly happy when cleaning
up brush land. There Is one instance
Of flock of 500 being allowed free
grazing in California forest reserve
In order to keep the strips Of cleared
land, known as fire breaks. free from
weeds and vegetation Settlers In
the Northwest find the Angora most
servieeahle In browsing of the brush