By experience we have learned that the common short coarse haired goat
can be crossed with the Angora goat, and that after sufficient crosses
have been made, the cross-bred Angora so nearly resembles the
thoroughbred that for all practical purposes he is an Angora. We have
also learned that certain kinds of common goats respond rapidly to the
infusion of Angora blood, and that others retain certain peculiarities
of the common goat for generations. The Angora will not cross with
sheep. For instance, a common goat with a long mane on the back, or tuft
of long hair behind the foreleg, or on the flank or the hip, will
continue to perpetuate this long coarse hair on the offspring for
generations, even though the best of Angora blood be infused. The color
of the common goat is of some importance. A brown or reddish brown goat
retains the reddish cast at the base of the mohair much longer than one
of a bluish or bluish black color. It is equally true that a pure white
mother may drop a colored kid occasionally. In Constantinople the mohair
is graded into parcels containing red kemp, black kemp, etc. There it is
the kemp which retains the color. As has been stated, there is also a
breed of brown Angora goats, or at least mohair-producing goats, in
Koniah in Asia Minor. Presuming, then, that one has a suitable common
doe and a good Angora buck as a basis, the following may be deduced as
relative changes in the different crosses:
[Illustration: PASHA V--A True Breeder.]
The first cross, or half-blood Angora, will have a covering of short
coarse common hair and a thin covering of mohair, which does not grow
very long. If the animal were to be shorn, possibly a half pound of hair
of a very inferior grade might be yielded. If this hair were to be
offered to a manufacturer, he would class it as noil, and refer it to a
carpet manufacturer, who would possibly pay ten or twelve cents a pound
for it. The skin of the animal will be a little fluffy, and not suitable
for fine goat skin trade. It will not take a good polish after tanning,
and it is not desirable for shoe leather. It will be worth about half as
much as common goat skin. The meat of the animal will be a little better
than that of the common goat, but it will be inferior to Angora venison.
The animal will still be as prolific as the common goat. Twins and
triplets will be a common occurrence. The kids will also be hardy. If
one were to stop at this stage in breeding, he would have decreased the
value of the skin of his goat without increasing the value of the
animal.
The second cross, or the three-quarter blood Angora, will have a
covering of short coarse common hair, especially noticeable on the back,
belly, neck and hips. The mohair will now be fairly thickly set upon the
sides of the animal, and of medium length, about seven inches long for a
year's growth. If the animal were to be examined by a novice, he would
be called an Angora from his general appearance. If shorn, he will yield
about one, or one and a half pounds of hair, and the mohair manufacturer
will pay about twelve or fifteen cents a pound for the material. The
skin is valueless for rug, robe or trimming purposes, because of the
coarse back and the scanty covering of mohair. It is fit for glove
leather after tanning, but its value for this purpose is less than that
of the common goat. The meat is more like Angora venison, and can be
sold on the market as mutton. The animal is still prolific. From the
second cross on, the grade goat rapidly assumes the characteristic of
the Angora goat, but if for any reason poor bucks are used (an
occasional animal without apparent reason retrogrades), the animal as
rapidly resumes the characteristic of the common goat. Quite a
percentage of colored kids will be dropped by does which are themselves
white.
The third cross, or seven-eighths blood Angora, will still have the
coarse back, a partially bare belly, coarse hips, and the neck will be
insufficiently covered. The sides will be covered with good quality,
long staple mohair, comparatively free from the coarse, dead underhair,
or kemp. The animal will shear about two or three pounds of fair mohair,
which will be worth from twenty to thirty cents a pound. This mohair
will be fit to run through the combs, and the "top," or long mohair,
free from kemp, will be used in the manufacture of plushes, braids, etc.
The skin will have some value for rug, robe and trimming purposes. The
meat will be juicy, palatable and salable as mutton.
The fourth cross, or fifteen-sixteenths blood Angora, will be hardly
distinguishable from the average thoroughbred Angora. The coarse back
will persist to some extent, and the hip will be plentifully covered
with kemp. A good many of this grade will be poorly covered on the
belly, and an occasional bare necked or off colored animal will be
dropped. The animal will shear from two and a half to five pounds of
mohair of good quality, which will be worth from twenty-five to
thirty-five cents a pound. It will be from eight to twelve inches long
at a year's growth, and it will be combed at the mill. It is fit for
manufacturing into any of the goods for which mohair is used. The meat
of the animal is rich, juicy, and free from the disagreeable qualities
so often noticeable in mutton. If the animal be fed upon browse, the
meat will have the flavor of venison. The tendency of the mothers to
drop twins will be lessened, and it will be rather the exception for
twins to be born. The kids will be rather delicate when dropped.
Subsequent crosses will tend to reduce the amount of kemp upon the
animal and to improve the back. The question will now resolve itself
into one of breeding for points. Bucks must be selected which cover the
points the does need most, and by careful selection the grade flock will
soon be indistinguishable from the thoroughbreds.