Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

The New Rural Industries
A handbook for Farmers and Investors

Mohair

Introduction

Australian production of mohair is valued at approximately $2 million per annum. Fibre-producing goats also benefit pasture and help to control many weeds. These large potential savings in labour and chemicals for weed control and in reclaiming land from weed infestations have hardly been tapped in most grazing areas of Australia.

Australian-grown mohair has been sold on international markets for over 25 years. During the past 10 years the mohair industry has invested heavily in obtaining the best genetics available in the world. Such animals are now available for new entrants in the mohair industry. Marketing and processing infrastructure is available. To increase exports, the industry needs more farmers with more farmed goats. Mohair production could increase in most districts and the challenge is to get goats onto farms.

Being agile, goats can be grazed on steep, inaccessible and weed-infested country provided that suitable fencing and management practices are implemented. Goats have successfully helped control and/or have assisted in the elimination of many weeds in Australia including:

• gorse, briar, blackberries

• scotch broom

• saffron, variegated, nodding, spear and artichoke thistles

• serrated tussock

Goats have been used in the management of Pinus radiata forests by reducing herbage growth to allow easier access during pruning and thinning, and by reducing the amount of pruning required.

Mohair is a textile fibre used in luxury garments. Produced by Angora goats, it is famed for its lustre and bright colours. It usually commands a premium in prices over wool but it has not had a floor-price to protect it artificially from price depressions. Consequently, prices vary with fashion demand.

Traditionally, the major producing countries have been South Africa, USA (principally Texas) and Turkey. Current production is 11,000 t, a 25-year low, and about half the production of a decade ago. This is in part due to the withdrawal of subsidies in the USA and the slaughter of Turkish goats for meat production. These are strategic changes in the world's mohair industry which provide a clear opportunity for Australia to overtake Turkey and the USA and become a leading mohair producer in the 21st century.

Markets and marketing issues

Australian greasy mohair is sold at auction by several brokers, and most is exported. Mohair is generally exported in a greasy state to Europe, India, Taiwan and Japan. In past years Australia has processed up to 40% of its mohair by either scouring, top-making or yarn manufacture and some finished knitwear was produced. Mohair products such as yarns, rugs, knitwear and velours are imported into Australia.

Recent mohair prices have been significantly higher than during the textile depression of the early 1990s. In 1996 prices eased from their recent peak in 1995. Prices are related to mean fibre diameter, fibre length and the incidence of impurity-medullated or coloured fibre. Fine kid mohair is usually valued at 50 to 100% greater than for the coarser mohair types. Sales in 1997 have seen kid mohair fetch $13/kg greasy and coarser adult fibre average $5 to 6/kg greasy.

Production requirements

Goats have evolved in semi-arid rangelands where they both graze and browse. This mixed feeding behaviour allows them to consume a wide range of plants including grasses, herbs, scrub and weeds. Goats do not eat everything; in fact they are quite selective, usually choosing only the most digestible plant parts available. They are also flexible and will change their preferences with the season. Goats can be kept on pastures quite satisfactorily but because of their ability to eat a wider variety of plants than sheep and cattle, they are productive in various environments.

Goats prefer areas with between 250 and 600 mm rainfall. When they are grazed with sheep at the recommended stocking rate, there are complementary benefits. If they are grazed with sheep at rates of stocking above the recommended level, they will lose to the sheep, as the goats are not as efficient at grazing the very short pastures. Generally, goats are not adapted to the wetter temperate environments (> 800 mm) where they are more prone to internal parasites and foot complaints.

Like sheep, goats are susceptible to soil trace-element deficiencies, particularly in higher rainfall regions. They may be susceptible to internal parasitism where grazing pressures are constantly > 10 DSE/ha.

Goats require specific fencing similar to that needed for crossbred ewes. A totally new prefabricated wire fence, in open country, costs from $1500 per km, whereas a 5-line electric fence will only cost about half this amount. In some locations an old fence can be goat-proofed by the addition of one single electric wire supported by outriggers. Electrified fencing is strongly recommended for effectiveness and cost. Shearing facilities are required for fibre goats and yards may need to be upgraded.

General region for goat production

Production requirements

Production requirements

Goats have evolved in semi-arid rangelands where they both graze and browse. This mixed feeding behaviour allows them to consume a wide range of plants including grasses, herbs, scrub and weeds. Goats do not eat everything; in fact they are quite selective, usually choosing only the most digestible plant parts available. They are also flexible and will change their preferences with the season. Goats can be kept on pastures quite satisfactorily but because of their ability to eat a wider variety of plants than sheep and cattle, they are productive in various environments.

Goats prefer areas with between 250 and 600 mm rainfall. When they are grazed with sheep at the recommended stocking rate, there are complementary benefits. If they are grazed with sheep at rates of stocking above the recommended level, they will lose to the sheep, as the goats are not as efficient at grazing the very short pastures. Generally, goats are not adapted to the wetter temperate environments (> 800 mm) where they are more prone to internal parasites and foot complaints.

Like sheep, goats are susceptible to soil trace-element deficiencies, particularly in higher rainfall regions. They may be susceptible to internal parasitism where grazing pressures are constantly > 10 DSE/ha.

Goats require specific fencing similar to that needed for crossbred ewes. A totally new prefabricated wire fence, in open country, costs from $1500 per km, whereas a 5-line electric fence will only cost about half this amount. In some locations an old fence can be goat-proofed by the addition of one single electric wire supported by outriggers. Electrified fencing is strongly recommended for effectiveness and cost. Shearing facilities are required for fibre goats and yards may need to be upgraded.

BreedsAngora goats produce mohair. There are several strains of Angora goats including the more productive South African Angoras and the Texan Angoras and the less productive Australian Angoras. Many Australian Angoras are being used in crossbreeding programs with the recently arrived strains. The Australian goats grow finer mohair but the mohair has some other less favourable characteristics. By crossbreeding the Australian goats with the newer genotypes, breeders are selecting a new type of Angora goat more adapted to the Australian environment.

The mohair industry has established a genetic improvement program, `Moplan', which is available for any producer to join.

It is best to plan your purchases in advance by arranging to buy goats from established breeders. Currently, many potential fibre-producing and breeding goats are slaughtered for meat. Goats are not usually sold in sheep and cattle markets. Specific goat auctions are held at major shows.

Animal husbandry

With your first steps you should `hasten slowly'. It is strongly recommended that potential goat farmers talk to and visit a number of established goat farms before they buy any goats. Excellent technical information is available from Industry Associations and Departments of Agriculture. Read this information and the proceedings from field days and conferences. Plan your objectives clearly. It is better to start with a smaller number of goats and build up your herd as you improve your management skills.

New entrants must ensure that:

• Appropriate goat fencing is erected on their property before goats are introduced. Fencing is best done by a `goat-wise' fencer according to industry best practice.

• Goats should be grazed at no more than the recommended stocking rate for sheep in your chosen district. Discuss grazing requirements with the local Department of Agriculture officers. The cheapest feed for all types of goat is pasture. Knowledge of efficient pasture husbandry, fertiliser practices and grazing management will lead to increased productivity.

• Essential equipment includes a vaccinator, drenching equipment, foot-paring shears, ear-tagging pliers, elastrator or castrating equipment, fleece shears and access to shearing equipment and fleece sorting table.

• Planning for shearing, in regions prone to cold, wet weather, includes making contingency arrangements for the provision of shelter to shorn goats for periods of up to six weeks following shearing.

• Goats are usually mated in autumn when their fertility is at its highest. One buck can mate about 60 does. Kidding occurs about 21 to 22 weeks (150 days) later. It is usual to mate goats for six to eight weeks and so kidding will be spread out over the same period. It is important to be familiar with the grazing requirements of breeding goats before mating them.

• Planning for kidding is essential. Predators must be controlled before kidding. Provision of suitable shelter is strongly recommended. Cold, wet weather can be fatal for kids.

• Kids are usually weaned from their mothers at 12 to 14 weeks of age.

• It is recommended that does be mated after they reach 25 kg live weight, which usually means at about 19 months of age.

Disease controlClostridial diseases, especially tetanus and pulpy kidney, can cause large losses with goats. Such diseases are easily and cheaply controlled by vaccinating kids at four to six weeks of age and again four weeks later. An annual booster vaccination is required for all goats.

Grazing goats will be susceptible to internal parasite diseases. It is important to have a thorough understanding of the requirements for the management of internal parasites, both preventative management via appropriate controlled grazing and the requirements for monitoring and treatment. Each district has different environmental circumstances and consequently the actual species of parasite and the appropriate control practices vary. Kids are very susceptible and may need treatment (drenching) with a suitable anthelmintic as young as 10 weeks of age. Drenching `guns' make the administration of appropriate drugs relatively simple. It is recommended that regular sampling of the faeces of goats for parasite eggs (worm tests) be undertaken to monitor the level of parasitism. Kits to make this task easier are available from Departments of Agriculture. Control programs usually involve treatment of pregnant does at
4 to 6 weeks before kidding.

External parasites such as lice can also infest goats. Control is relatively simple but the equipment needed includes access to a `sheep dip', either a plunge or spray dip. ALL goats need to be treated twice within 6 weeks to ensure that all adult lice and any newly hatched lice are killed. Special care is needed when using chemicals.

Goats can be susceptible to various foot diseases such as foot rot and foot abscess. Control of these diseases is a medium-term activity following detailed advice from the Department of Agriculture.

Industry groups are trying to eliminating Johnes Disease from flocks of goats. Potential purchasers of goats need to avoid purchasing goats exposed to this disease.

Harvesting, handling and marketing requirements

Mohair fibre must be shorn from the goats and carefully prepared for sale in order to achieve the best possible financial return. Mohair must be shorn twice each year, usually in late autumn and late spring, when its length exceeds 10 cm. Kid fibre brings the highest prices and so nutritional management and shearing management of kids is critical if the best prices are to be achieved. Vegetable matter (VM) contamination will result in large price discounts. Once the fleece has grown about 3 months it becomes more susceptible to VM contamination. It is important to avoid pastures and hay feeding that will contaminate the fleece with VM or spiny burrs. Shed hygiene standards should be followed.

Mohair must be carefully prepared for sale, contaminants removed and the fibre sorted into sale lines in accordance with the guidelines issued by the marketing agencies. Failure to follow the guidelines will incur additional charges.

Fibre is packed in wool packs, or bales, or in strong polyurethane (clear) plastic bags. These packs must be sealed, clearly marked, coded and numbered and dispatched to the agents with an appropriate dispatch note.

Economics of production

Pure bred goats may cost from $250 per head but commercial fibre goats can be purchased from about $25 per head. If fencing is required, capital inputs will be greater, and this is best undertaken when fencing on a property is already run down. Returns on capital vary from about 0% when significant capital is required to about 40% per annum when benefits arise from weed control.

Key contacts

Mohair Australia Ltd
c/- ABRI
University of New England
Armidale, NSW 2351
Phone: (02) 6773 3557
Email: mohair@abri.une.edu.au

In each State the farmer associations have goat industry sections that can provide industry development contacts and information, consult your telephone directory.

Key references

The Goat Manual 1990,NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney.

McGregor, B. A. (Ed) Proceedings National Mohair Conferences, 1994, 1995, 1996 Agriculture Victoria, Melbourne.

Davies, L. and Murray, G., 1997 The Economics of a Commercial Angora Goat Enterprise Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.

Brydon, D. (Ed) 1990 Goat Health and Production Proceeding No. 134 Post-Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, 500 pp.

Industry journals:

• The Australian Goat Report published fortnightly and The Goat Farmer magazine, ring 045 761 218.

• Mohair Australia published by Mohair Australia Ltd.

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