By Roelof Bezuidenhout
Angora goats are true dual-purpose animals, valued for both mohair and meat. Mohair, a scarce and luxurious fibre, continues to enjoy strong demand and excellent prices. Angora meat is a secondary produce – only older goats are typically sent to abattoirs, usually once their fibre production begins to decline in quality and volume.
Native to the Central Anatolian region of Turkey, particularly the province of Ankara (hence the name), Angoras were introduced to South Africa in the 1830s. They are not suited to all veld types or climates. They thrive in the Eastern Cape’s bushveld and the dry Karoo, where they primarily browse, but with good management they can also be profitably farmed on pasture or grassveld. Still, mohair production is not a venture to enter into without thorough research.
The mohair industry
South Africa and Lesotho together produce more than 60% of the world’s mohair clip. Most of it is auctioned in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, where it is semi-processed before being exported – mainly to the East – for final manufacturing. This process requires specialised machinery, techniques and expertise. Mohair is most often blended with other fibres, including synthetics. A pure mohair blazer or suit fetches a hefty price in high-end European boutiques; whereas in South Africa, the most popular mohair item is the ultra-light blanket. Other products, such as scarves and winter gloves, are also sold at local craft markets.
Angora goats are shorn roughly every five months and an adult goat can yield at least 4 kg of mohair in a year. Current average prices sit at around R350/kg. Kids and young goats produce smaller quantities, but their fleeces are significantly more valuable – top-quality kid mohair can sell for more than R600/kg, even though a first shearing typically produces less than 1 kg. The best clips from experienced producers fetch even higher prices.
Judging a good fleece takes knowledge or expert guidance. For example, breeding stock should be free of kemp – a short, coarse white fibre that doesn’t dye well and compromises the final product. And spotting this it isn’t always easy.
In the clothing industry, mohair is prized for its natural lustre – its ability to reflect light beautifully. It is also exceptionally durable – almost everlasting. In fact, from the 1930s to the 1950s, mohair was commonly used for upholstery in aeroplanes and trains. At that time, however, the fibre was much coarser, with fleece diameters often exceeding 40 microns.
Thanks to decades of genetic selection and breeding for quality, modern mohair is far finer now. Today, superfine kid mohair measures about 25 microns, young goats produce fibre closer to 29 microns, and fine adult mohair averages about 32 microns. The result is a fibre that is now soft enough to wear comfortably – gone is the scratchiness of the past. (For comparison, superfine Merino wool measures around 15 microns, and standard Merino wool about 20 microns.)
Raising Angoras
Angora goats grow more slowly than Boer goats or crossbreeds, and don’t reach the same body mass, but mature goats can still fetch decent prices as slaughter stock. A six-tooth or full-mouth wether (also known as a kapater) can weigh 50kg or more on the hoof, and sell for about R20/kg. An old ewe in good condition might weigh about 40kg.
Thanks to their smaller size and lighter body weight, Angoras are gentler on the veld when well managed. On good goat veld, you can stock about one-third more Angoras than you would sheep or larger meat goats.
Farming with Angoras is labour-intensive but can be highly rewarding once you understand the basics – and provided you have proper fencing and shelters in place. They tend to perform best under the care of a dedicated individual, but small-scale communal farming can also succeed if all farmers involved are committed.
Angoras are purebred animals and must not be crossbred with other breeds, as this would compromise the distinctive qualities of their highly sought-after fibre. So, it is especially important to keep the ewe flocks well away from any foreign rams, particularly during the breeding season, from February to May.
Most ewes only reach breeding maturity at the four-tooth stage, so don’t expect too much from your younger animals. The gestation period is about five months, so mating can be timed to produce kids after winter. Note that twins are relatively uncommon in this breed. Although newborn kids are fairly resilient, even in poor weather, they do rely on their mothers having sufficient milk.
Weaning typically takes place at the first shearing, early in the new year.
Critical periods in Angora farming
If ewes are allowed to kid alone out in the veld, they should be left undisturbed until the kids are strong enough. Herding them too soon will separate the mothers from their offspring, leading to significant losses. The safest approach is to move the ewes that are about to give birth closer to home, and to mark both the mother and the kid.
You can keep the kids in a kraal during the day while the ewes graze. This method requires hands-on management and additional feed, and it goes against the traditional practice of farming with veld-adapted animals, as the kids may not grow as well. This approach, however, helps to minimise predator-related losses, especially from black-backed jackals.
The ideal time to shear ewes is four to six weeks before they kid, ensuring that they have grown enough hair to protect them from cold rains when the kids arrive. Some bloodlines are naturally hardier than others in this regard.
In Lesotho, where many skilled Angora goat farmers are based, the goats typically have finer hair. They are sheared only once a year due to local conditions, resulting in longer hair, known as “Lesotho hair”.
For up to six weeks after shearing, Angora goats are highly sensitive to cold, wet weather. During this time, they should be kept in veld that provides natural protection from the wind, such as rocky hills, tall bushes and thorn trees. It is important to closely monitor the weather so the flock can be moved into a well-built shed before rain sets in. Don’t take any chances – if the forecast is bad, bring them in, even if it’s just for the night. This will give you peace of mind, knowing you are protecting your herd from potential mortalities that can occur overnight. Additionally, keep some feed in bags or bales on hand in case the weather remains poor for an extended period, requiring you to feed the flock in or near the shed.
Never rush a hungry flock back to the veld after a day in the shearing shed. Goats that are hungry or malnourished are particularly vulnerable to cold snaps. Check with the local weather office for updates until the danger passes.
Basic animal husbandry
Successful Angora goat farming also requires following some basic animal husbandry practices, such as ensuring the goats always have a constant supply of food, whether from veld grazing or supplements; keeping them free of ticks, lice and internal parasites; being aware of any local diseases; and ensuring their fleece remains clean and free from seeds. Avoid herding goats with long fleeces in moist conditions, including on dew-covered veld, as their fleeces will stain. Wait until both the veld and the fleeces are dry before working with them. Clean mohair fleeces yield 80% clean fibre, compared with wool’s 70%. Also remember to shear around their faces before their locks get into their eyes.
Avoid plunge-dipping a flock with more than two months of hair growth, and only use registered products that do not leave behind prohibited chemical residues. Crutch the ewes well in advance of shearing to keep their hindquarters clean. Take extra care with kids, as their long hair can easily get caught in dense, thorny shrubs such as cat thorn. Even older goats may become entangled in loose strands of barbed wire. Goats are natural climbers and jumpers, so make sure open reservoirs are securely fenced or raised high enough to prevent access. If one goat jumps in, others are likely to follow, often with fatal consequences.
Shearing and classing mohair
An expert shearing team will charge about R9 per goat.
Since mohair is used for high-end fashion garments, lightweight winter coats and premium upholstery fabrics, selecting for quality fleeces and properly classing the clip at shearing are essential.
Kid mohair should be soft to the touch (less than 30 microns in fibre diameter) and long, and should display good style and character – referring to the natural curl of the locks. This curl not only adds value but also protects the fibres from sun damage and dust. As goats mature, their locks tend to become flatter and coarser, with fibre thickness increasing into the 30-micron range.
When classing mohair, keep the clips from different age groups separate, and pack any shorter or contaminated pieces on their own. Always pack your clip in approved mohair bags – never in old feed bags or plastic containers, which can contaminate the fibre.
It is best to sell your mohair through an established broker such as the House of Fibres, BKB or CMW, rather than to farm-gate traders, who typically pay less per kilogram.
Getting into Angora farming
Most Angora goats are sold at stock sales in the Eastern Cape. You can expect to pay about R3 500 for a quality two-tooth flock ram from a reputable commercial breeder.
A ratio of four rams per 100 ewes is generally sufficient. When buying ewes, check that their teeth will last at least another season or two, and make sure they have healthy, functional udders. Avoid buying animals with outward-pointing ears – nicknamed “Boeing ears” – as this can indicate crossbreeding. True Angora ears are soft, silky and unpigmented.
You don’t need hundreds of Angoras to make it worthwhile. Even shearing a few bags of mohair each year can be profitable.
*Future articles will explore Angora goat farming in greater depth.
Also read:
• This is what you must know about goats
• Developing a goat industry as robust as the beef sector
• WATCH | All about goats! We chat with Mike Gcabo
 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
