Angora Information

Part 1  (General)

Part 2 (Management)    Part 3 (Breeding)    Part 4 (Shearing)   Part 5 (Getting Started)   Part 6 (Additional Links)

Characteristics Angoras are less active than the typical dairy goat and are more easily confined. They are excellent browsers and will derive a large proportion of their food supply from tree leaves and branches. They also eat weeds, if available. Size Angora goats are slightly smaller than the meat-type, black-faced sheep. At birth they weigh 4 to 8 pounds; at 6 months, 35 to 50 pounds; and at 16 to 18 months old, 55 to 65 pounds. Mature does (nannies) weigh 75 to 100 pounds and mature bucks (billies) weigh 85 to 125 pounds. Fleece Angora goats are excellent producers of fine quality fleece. On average mature goats will produce 10 to 16 pounds of hair annually. Angoras are typically shorn twice a year, September and March. During the first 30 days following shearing the goats are susceptible to hypothermia. Adequate housing is necessary during this time to protect them. The spring shearing usually yields 25 to 35 percent more than the fall. As the goats become mature and larger, their fleece becomes coarser and less valuable.

Feed Although Angora goats will eat poor quality shrubs, bushes and woody plants, the amount of hair they produce is greatly affected by their nutrient intake. During gestation, a diet of 75 percent alfalfa and 25 percent corn has enough energy, protein, minerals and vitamins to allow good animal performance. A free-choice diet of 50 percent corn and 50 percent alfalfa is recommended during lactation. This diet will maximize milk production and maintain body weight and hair growth. Reproduction Goats are seasonally polyestrous, like sheep. The sexually mature animals begin breeding during fall and early winter. Declining light hours trigger the onset of the breeding season, but the presence of a billy significantly contributes to the onset of estrous. A doe bred during her first estrous of the season will generally have a lower lambing percentage than if she is bred in the following cycle. Angora goats are substantially less prolific than sheep and have a higher percentage of barren or open does. Breeding kid does at 7 to 8 months of age is less successful than breeding ewe lambs of the same age. The gestation period for Angoras is approximately 148 days. The breeding season should be scheduled so that farm labor is available the following spring for kidding. Kid crops of 115 to 140 percent are realized for a mature herd. Diseases and parasites Health problems are the major risk associated with Angora goat production. Angoras are known to have more health problems than other domesticated livestock. Angoras are susceptible to the same diseases as sheep, and to similar parasites. Angora kids are quite susceptible to coccidiosis. Other common diseases include pneumonia, urinary calculi, and overeating. Although they appear to be less resistant than sheep to internal parasites, internal parasites may be controlled with Ivermectin or Tramisole. External parasites are generally controlled with Ectrin poured along the back. Good management will control diseases and parasites.

Part 2 (Management)   Part 3 (Breeding)   Part 4 (Shearing)   Part 5 (Getting Started)   Part 6 (Additional Links)