Farming with Angora goats can be easy once you understand the essentials, says Roelof Bezuidenhout. Angora goats are true dual purpose animals.

Although these goats are not adapted to all veld types or climates, many farmers make good money from them. Shearing every five months or so, you can expect at least 4kg of hair a year from an adult goat. And the best quality clips from top mohair farmers are priced much higher than this.

Angoras do best under a single owner, but communal farmers can also run them, provided all the farmers in the group are committed and work together carefully. Angoras are pure-bred animals and should not be cross-bred with other goats, as this would destroy the characteristics of their unique fibre.

There are two other critical times of the year for Angoras: Kidding Shear your ewes four to six weeks before they kid so they will have grown some hair to protect them against cold by the time the kids are born. The safest kidding method is to put ewes that are about to give birth in a comfortable kraal, making sure they have plenty to eat and drink. After the kid is born, give it and its mother a similar mark or number.

Do It Yourself: Raising Angora Goats

Then keep the kids in a kraal during the day while the ewes are out grazing, and use the marks to pair the mothers with their kids when the ewes return at the end of the day. If you do not do this, the thirsty kids will drink from the nearest ewes and some might not get enough, while some ewes will not release all their milk.

This needs careful management. If the ewes are allowed to kid alone out in the veld, they should be left completely undisturbed until the kids are strong. Herding them before this will separate the mothers from their offspring and the kids may not get sufficient milk.

After shearing For up to six weeks after shearing, Angoras are highly sensitive to cold weather. During this time, keep them on veld that offers protection from the wind, such as with tall shrubs and thorn trees. Good husbandry Always ensure that your Angoras have enough food either in the veld or as supplements , keep them free from ticks, lice and internal parasites, and be aware of any diseases specific to your area.

Mohair is exported for upmarket clothing and upholstery fabrics, so the cleaner your fleece, the higher the prices you will be paid. The locks of kids should be soft to the touch less than 30 micron in fibre diameter and long. As the goats mature, their locks become flatter and coarser, with fibre thickness reaching the higher 30 microns.

When classing the hair, keep clips of the different age groups apart and pack all shorter or dirty pieces separately. The best way to market your clip is through an established broker, such as BKB or CMW, and not to farm-gate traders, who are likely to pay less per kilogram.

How to Make Money with Goats | eHow

More detailed information can be obtained from Mohair South Africa in Port Elizabeth. Classifieds Suppliers Subscribe Contact Us. Home Farm Basics How to Livestock The basics of Angora farming. The basics of Angora farming Roelof Bezuidenhout. Angora ewes with kids feeding in the veld.

TAGS angora goats climate farmer farming kid mohair money pure-bred ram shearing veld.

How to catch a stock thief. Beware of Congo fever! Tips on selecting heifers. Feeding dairy cows roughage.

Angora Goats Are A Good Choice For Hobby Farmers - Hobby Farms

Buy cattle from a reputable breeder. A message for the drought fund thieves June 21, How to start your own poultry business July 8, Sneak video preview of Mercedes-Benz X-class bakkie at Nampo May 16, Send this to a friend Your email Recipient email Send Cancel. Edit with Live CSS.