For 15 years we raised coloured angora goats at Joybilee Farm. Angora goats grow mohair. (Angora rabbits grow angora fibre). This breed originated in Turkey and was coveted for its long lustrous locks. Angora Goats are a single coated breed. Their locks grow continuously, one inch a month. They are sheared twice a year — in the fall and in the Spring, before kidding.
They’re a slim, graceful animal that puts most of their food energy into growing hair and raising their twin kids, so they aren’t, generally, used for meat.
Kid mohair is the first clip off a baby angora goat, usually 5 months after birth. The lock is about 4 inches long and very soft and curly. It is suitable for next to the skin wear and takes dyes richly.
Young adult/yearling mohair is the 2nd, 3rd and 4th clips. Often this clip is as soft as kid fleece, with more bounce and body, greater length — usually 5 to 6 inches.
Adult mohair is strong and lustrous in a healthy animal. It takes dyes richly and with full lustre and shine. Adult angora goats were originally bred for the turkish carpet industry and their adult fleece is perfect for rugs, blankets and outer wear. Adult fleece are between 4 and 6 inches in length, strong and lustrous.
Although there are several natural colours in coloured angora goats, Joybilee Farm raised coloured angora goats in black, and chocolate. The fleeces vary from coal black to grey, chocolate to lilac. The fleeces change colour as the animal ages — sometimes moving toward grey and sometimes darkening. This is one of the exciting aspects of raising coloured fleeces. Each shearing day is a surprise.
The coloured fleece takes dyes in rich jewel tones. All our white animals carried colour genetics but their fleece were often sparkling white.
We alternated between a black buck and a chocolate buck in our breeding program.
All our white females were sired by a coloured buck and were colour-carriers. Our flock was a commercial purebred flock. We no longer sell breeding stock.
