By gradual steps the original Angoras imported into America have been so
improved, and the cross-bloods have been so highly graded that some of
the American flocks equal the best Turkish flocks. America has many
high-grade flocks, which, if it were not for the remaining coarse hair
of the common goat, would be upon a par with the Turkish flocks. There
are enough good goats in the country for a foundation stock, and a few
years more of the careful, painstaking, selective breeding which is in
progress throughout the United States to-day, will bring forth an Angora
superior to the Turkish stock. Sections of the country modify the
characteristics of the Angora. Probably climatic conditions, varieties
of food and water, and certainly mental vigor of the owners is largely
responsible for this. One man selects large, well formed, rapidly
maturing goats and breeds for this type. It is surprising how soon his
flocks assume this type. Another breeder works for fineness of fleece,
regardless of size or shape of the animal, and he gets his points.
There has been much vagueness as to what points the breeder should try
to produce. Some have claimed that the most profitable animal to raise
was one producing heavy ringletty fleece, regardless of the quality of
the fleece, except of course that it should be as free from kemp as
possible. This day has passed. We know what the mohair is used for, and
know how it is prepared for manufacturing. The future may change these
uses or methods, but we know what we want now, and we know how to breed
our goats to produce the most money per head for the present at least.
Fashions vary, and the fashions vary the demand for certain grades of
mohair. Coarse fibered, long staple, fine luster mohair possessing a
great amount of tensile strength and elasticity will make good braid
yarns, but if braid yarns are not in demand, such fiber is not the best
for plush or dress yarns. Fine fibered, long staple, pliable, lustrous,
easily spun yarn can be used for braid stuff, or at least part of the
fleece will be heavy enough for this purpose, and the finer parts have
such a variety of uses that they spin yarns which are always in demand.
Looking at the question from the manufacturing standpoint, we see that
the most staple product is the fine-fibered mohair. But a producer might
have animals which would shear two and a half pounds average (the
average of the Turkish flocks) of very fine mohair, while another grower
might have animals which would shear four or five pounds average of
coarse mohair. And even though the value per pound of the coarse mohair
may be considerably less than that of the fine mohair, the grower owning
the coarse haired heavy shearing Angoras will realize more money per
head for his clip. The value also of the carcass and skin of the Angora
is of importance. A heavy carcass and a large skin are of more value
than a light carcass and a small skin.
If the Angora breeder would produce the animal which will yield the most
money per head, he should aim to produce an animal which will shear the
heaviest fleece of the most marketable mohair, regardless of fashions,
and one which, when put upon the market, will dress the most possible
pounds of desirable meat, and yield a readily marketable skin. There are
not many such animals on the market to-day, but the time when there will
be plenty is coming. We have the fineness of fiber; we have the density
of weight of fleece; we have the covering of the animal and the size and
stamina of the individual, and we have breeders who are endeavoring to
unite combinations to produce the Angora of the future. But while we are
without the ideal, one should choose that point which is hardest to
attain, most necessary for the best paying animal, and work especially
for that. That point is fineness of fiber, always remembering freeness
from kemp. There are many large goats, many heavy shearing goats, but
there are very few fine fibered comparatively free from kemp goats. One
should not make the mistake of neglecting size and weight of fleece.
There are few animals which will respond more rapidly to careful
crossing than the Angora goat. A buck will usually stamp his
individuality upon every kid, hence the necessity of carefully selecting
breeding stock.