Angora Goat: Characteristics, Facts & Breed Information

Angora goat is a breed of domestic goat in the country of Turkey. These goats are capable of producing lustrous fiber called mohair. Mohair is one of the unique animal materials used to make cloth in order to make them garments. These garments are available today for the public to buy. But they are more expensive to buy than ordinary garments because mohair is a good quality fiber. Keep reading to learn more about them.

History

Angora goats originated in the district of Angora in Asia Minor. (in the present, the Angora district is called Ankara, the capital of Turkey). Angora’s name was obtained from Ankara, which was historically known as angora. Their mohair was a valuable product in commerce in early 19th century in the European countries. What the people do from that time is they try to export the goats to Europe in order for them to herd and get the mohair of the goats. But the results were not successful because the sultan of Turkey from that time gave a strict order about exporting them to Europe.

In 1838, their successful exportation of them was in South Africa. Their strict order of exportation to them was lifted. Then, from that time, after that, they are now exported from different countries including the United States.

Origin

Angora goats originated in Ankara, Turkey. Which is known from the past as Angora.

Angora Goat Characteristics

• They are medium to large-sized goats.
• These goats have multiple colors. They can be white, red, tan, brown, gray, black or a mix of these colors.
• The bucks produce up to 12 pounds of skirted fiber, while the does produce about 8 pounds of skirted fiber a year.
• The average height of the adult bucks and the adult does is around 25 to 40 inches.
• The average weight of the adult bucks is around 180-225 pounds, while for their adult does, they are around 70-110 pounds.
• They have a pair of horns curved to the back.
• Their ears are pendulous.
• Their legs are short and small sized.
• They have tails that are short that are held high.
• Their backs are straight and very strong.
• Their bodies are slender, elegant and light framed that are very near the ground.
• They have small heads.
• Their skin is loose and flexible.
• They are not good for milk and meat production.
• They are good producers of fiber called mohair.
• They produce long sized bright hair. The hair length measures about 13-25 cm.
• They can adapt to different types of climates and environments.
• Their temperament is usually very gentle, docile, friendly, relatively quiet and curious goat breed.

Facts

• Angora goats are usually sheared twice a year.
• The top mohair producers in the world are Turkey, USA, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
• Their first kidding is at the age of 2 years old, rather than yearlings, which results in a low reproductive rate.
• They usually produce one kid each time.
• They have too many colors.
• They have a lifespan of 10 years.
• Their gestation period is 150 days.
• Their usual diet is hays, grasses, shrubs, leaves and grains.
• The fleece that was taken from Angora goats is called mohair.
• The main purpose of raising them is for their fiber.
• Both sexes of angora goats have horns.
• They are not suitable for milk and meat production.
• They can only produce 1 liter of milk per day.
• The percentage of their milk fat content is 5.7%
• Their lactation period is short.
• Angora goat’s usual habitat is in the semi-arid region with dry hot summers and cold winters.
• Their wool or mohair are used for making yarns, sweaters, scarves and a lot more.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Their size and temperament are suitable for children.
• They can adapt to different types of climates and environments.
• They are good for producing fiber.
• They are efficient browsers.
• Their meat is tasty, even though they are not meat goats.
• They are not good at escaping.

Cons

• They are not good for producing milk and meat.
• They have a lack of hardiness.
• They have a low reproductive rate.
• They have a short lifespan.
• They are not good when bonding with their kids.
• They likely get harmed by diseases and parasites.
• They are high maintenance goats due to their high level requirements.
• Their kids are much weaker compared to the kids of other goat breeds.

Uses

Angora goats are usually used for their fiber because they are known to provide a large amount of it.

Breed Profile Information

Breed Name	Angora Goat
Other Name	None
Breed Purpose	For Fiber Production
Uses	Fiber, Milk, Meat and Pets
Size	Medium to Large
Height	Adult Bucks and Adult Does Height is About 25-40 inches
Weight	Adult Bucks 180-225 pounds, Adult Does 70-110 pounds
Horns	Yes
Climate Tolerance	All Climates
Colors	They have Too Many Colors
Life Expectancy	10 years
Temperament	Very Gentle, Docile, Friendly, Quiet and Curious Goat Breed
Good for Stall Fed	Not Sure
Milk Production Per Day	1 liter/day
Milk Fat Content	5.7%
Rarity	Common
Country/Place of Origin	Turkey

Final Thoughts

Angora goats are goats that are used for commercial fiber production. They are known to provide large amounts of it. If you want to buy them, they cost around $300-$350 per goat.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are angora goats used for? Angora goats are primarily used for their mohair or fiber. They are known to provide a large amount of it. That’s why they are suitable for commercial fiber production.

Are angora goats good for meat? Angora goats can also be good for their meat. But they are not good for commercial meat production because they are small compared to the goats that are primarily used in meat production.

Are angora goats good milkers? Angora goats are not good milkers. They are only good with their mohair or fiber.

Are angora goats friendly? Yes, they are friendly goats. In fact, they can also be pets because of their good behavior.

How much wool does an angora goat produce? Angora goat produces 8 -16 pounds of mohair per year.

Where are angora goats found in India? Angora goats can be found in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India.

Where is angora goat found? Angora goat can be found in Turkey.

How much does an angora goat cost? They cost around $300-$350 per goat.