module 10 - mohair production - meat & livestock australia

An introduction to the mohairindustry1:Mohair is the fleece produced by Angoragoats. The origins of the Angora breed canbe traced to the Himalaya Mountains ofAsia.

The breed was introduced to Australia fromFrance in the early 1800s. However, themost significant genetic input to theAustralian Angora has come from SouthAfrica and America, or more specificallyTexas.

Today, South Africa is by far the largestmohair-producing nation, accounting forover sixty percent of the world’s mohair clip.The United States of America is also asignificant producer of mohair. Australia iscurrently only a small player on the worldscene, contributing less than 5% of theworld total.

The characteristics of mohair that make it asought-after fibre are its lustre, soft handle,strength, elasticity and low feltingproperties. Mohair is also very durable, easyto clean, flame resistant, has a very highaffinity for dyes and possesses bothinsulating and sound absorbanceproperties.

With these qualities, the fibre lends itself toa broad range of uses. Mohair generally fallswithin the fibre diameter range of 23-38microns. The finest fleece is grown byyoung kids, with fibre diameter increasingas liveweight increases. At the finer end ofthe scale, mohair is used in fashion knitwearand suiting. As the micron increases, thefibre finds different uses; coating,accessories and soft-furnishingmanufacture. The skins can also be used inthe production of leather goods.

What to do?In a mohair enterprise, the four keyelements of knowledge and skill that aproducer should seek to develop are asfollows:

1. Know and understand the specificationsof your product.

2. Know how to produce mohair efficiently.

3. Know how to harvest mohair effectively.

4. Know how to market your productsuccessfully.

How to do it?1. Product specifications

The income from a mohair clip is based onthe combination of fleece quality andquantity, which is largely determined bybreeding and management.

Mohair is valued in dollars per kilogram($/kg) of greasy fibre. The factors whichinfluence price are primarily fibre diameter(fineness) and length, and to a lesser extent

Module 10 - Mohair production

Module 10 – Mohair production 1

Australian fine kid mohair suitable for fashion knitwearand suiting.

1 Information for this section has been sourced from: Mohair Australia, 2005, The History of the Angora Goat, Mohair Fibre, Mohair Market, Mohair Australia Ltd,Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008, <http://www.mohair.org.au>.

This Give Goats a Go manual is provided under a Creative Commons Licence CC-BY-SA 4.0For more information go to www.mla.com.au/creative-commons © Meat & Livestock Australia

2 Module 10 – Mohair production

style, lustre, character, colour, medullatedfibre and fault (contamination).

Quantity

Individual fleece weight, yield (amount ofclean fibre) and number of fleeces are thefactors which determine the quantity of fibreproduced by an enterprise.

Breeding and management will influence thequantity of fleece produced by an individualgoat and the yield. Yield refers to the postcleaning weight of fleece, ie usable product.During the cleaning process, grease,vegetable matter, dust, contaminants andshort/broken fibres are removed, thusreducing the fleece weight. Yield isexpressed as a percentage of the greasyweight. The higher the yield, the lower thelosses during processing and hence themore valuable the product.

Intensive cleaning processes, such ascarbonising to remove heavy vegetablematter or lengthy scouring to removeexcessive grease, are expensive and candamage the fibre so the requirement forsuch treatments will significantly devaluethe fleece.

Length of fibre is an integral part of thequantity equation and also has implicationsfor the end use of the product. Mohair isclassed into four categories in descendingorder of length: A, B, C and locks. Thespecific length range for each categoryvaries according to the fleece type, asfollows2:

Top left - good solid locks showing good balance ofstyle and charater.

Top right - Flat lock - good character but lacking style.

Lower - poor lock definition - cross fibred.

2 Mohair Australia, 2005, Mohair Classing Standards, Mohair Australia Ltd, Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008, http://www.mohair.org.au/classing.

Fleece type

Length category Kid Young goat Adult

A length 12-16 cm length 13-16 cm length 13-16 cm

B length 10-16 cm length 11-13 cm length 11-13 cm

C length 6-10 cm length 6-11 cm length 6-11 cm

Locks Less than 6 cm Less than 6 cm Less than 6 cm

Overlong Greater than 16 cm

Overlong fleece incurs a significant financial penalty when soldcommercially. However, it is sought after in craft markets and, in

small quantities, can bring a premium price.

The buyers’ preference for fibre length isinfluenced by trends in fashion and theintended end use of the product.

The timing of shearing will influence fibrelength. Mohair growth is rapid,approximately two centimetres per month,and Angora goats require shearing at sixmonthly intervals3. Fibre growth isinfluenced by day length and animalnutrition, with the rate of growth increasingas day length and/or the feed supplyincreases and vice versa. As aconsequence, winter fleeces tend to benaturally shorter than summer fleeces. Itshould be noted that over-long fleeces aremore prone to entanglement, vegetablecontamination and stain.

Quality

Fleece quality relates to fibre fineness,lustre, style and character, strength, fleeceuniformity and presence of medullated andkemp fibres. Fleece quality is largelyinfluenced by breeding.

• Fineness – The fineness of a fleece refersto the average fibre diameter and ismeasured in microns. In general, thelower the micron the higher the fleecevalue.

The Australian Mohair industry isbreeding toward larger framed animalswith finer fleeces that are suitable for awide range of climatic zones. However,there is also a tendency for finer fleecesto trap more vegetable matter, so carefulmanagement is required to reduce theincidence of vegetable fault. Furtherinformation is provided later in thismodule.

• Lustre – Mohair fibres have a distinctlustre which is highly desirable. This

characteristic relates to the reflection oflight from surface of the fibre and is afunction of the closed arrangement ofcuticle cells or scales on the surface ofthe fibre. Whilst a high quality fleece hasa soft bright sheen, a poor quality fleecewill appear dull and lifeless.

• Style and character - These twoproperties give structure to the staple.Style refers to the twist or ringlets in thefibre. Character describes the waves orcrimp in the staple. A balance of styleand character within the staple ispreferred and should be consistentacross the fleece. Poorly defined twistand crimp can result in a fleece thatappears either flat or ropey.

• Strength – Staple strength is measuredin terms of the pressure required tobreak the staple and is quoted in Newtonper kilotex (N/ktex). The Australian WoolTesting Authority Ltd quotes a figure of41 N or above as generally beingconsidered ‘sound’ in the wool trade4.One of the characteristics of mohair is itsstrength.

• Fleece uniformity – The predictability ofprocessing performance is enhanced byuniformity of fibre traits across the bodyof the animal. Uniformity is highly valuedby buyers. In the shearing shed, themore uniform the fleece, the less skirtingis required.

• Medullated and kemp fibres – Medullatedand kemp fibres are irregularities thatcan occur in Angora goats and are highlyundesirable. These irregular fibres have achalky white appearance, exhibit poordye absorption and are coarse and lessresilient than normal mohair fibres5.Kemp fibres are short and thick, whereasmedullated fibres are quite long.


3 Mohair Australia, 2005, Mohair Fibre, Mohair Australia Ltd, Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008, <http://www.mohair.org.au/fibre>.4 Australian Wool Testing Authority Ltd, 2008, Australian Wool Testing Authority, Kensington, viewed 15 January 2008, <http://www.awta.com.au>.5 Balasingam, A. (2005). The Definitions of Medullation Threshold Values used by Different Testing Methods to Define an Objectionable Medullated Fibre in Merino

Wool. Literature review. Australian Wool Innovation Project – EC651, Australian Wool Testing Authority Ltd, Kensington, viewed 15 January,<http://www.awta.com.au>.


Detailed feedback about fibre diameter,length and yield is provided by the brokeron all full sale lots supplied from a singleproperty. If there is insufficient fleece tomake up a sale lot, similar fleece materialfrom multiple properties will be combined;in such cases, detailed feedback about aparticular property’s fleece cannot beprovided.

An example of a feedback sheet ispresented in Ian and Helen Cathles’ CaseStudy, at the back of this module.

Accredited fleece testing services areprovided by organisations such as theAustralian Wool Testing Authority Ltd.Fleece samples can be sent away fortesting or mobile testing units can be usedon farm. Such services can providequantitative information about fibrediameter, length and washing yield.

Feedback on your product specification isessential for you to determine how well yourproduct aligns with the demands of the enduser and to assess the progress of yourbreeding program and farm managementactivities.

Animal specifications

Animal selection and breeding has asignificant influence on fleece weight, yieldand quality so it is important to know yourproduct and focus on those traits that willimprove your mohair income. It is alsoimportant to select/breed a goat that isphysically sound, robust and fertile. Module5 – Goat Selection explores the subject ofgoat selection in detail. A summary of thekey selection criteria for Angora goats ispresented below:

Frame:

• Robust animal.

• Structurally sound legs and back.

• Well sprung ribs.

• Consider meat production traits to addvalue to culls. Mature culls will be soldinto commodity meat markets. Surplusyoung goats, 12 weeks to 12 months ofage, may be able to be sold as caprettoor chevon. For more information on meatproduct specifications refer to Module 8- Marketing and the AUS-MEAT websitewww.ausmeat.com.au. Some angorasare smaller framed and slower maturingthan the meat breeds and may remainwithin the specifications for capretto andchevon for longer.

Feet:

• Sound, well structured feet.

• Consider the environment in which thegoats will be run. Rocky environmentswill keep feet in shape. In wetterclimates, where there is an absence ofrock, foot trimming may be required.

Mouths:

• Sound teeth.

• Well formed jaw – not under or overshot.

Fine kid mohair ready for pressing.

Horns:

• For ease of shearing and to reduce therisk of fighting injuries, horns should notbe positioned too close to the head (aimto have horns bending downward, awayfrom neck line), nor should they be toowidely spread.

• Horns should not be too close togetheron the head.

• Trim horn tips to reduce the risk of injuryto handlers and other goats.

Fertility:

• Ease of kidding.

• Normal genitalia.

• In a broad acre grazing situation with lowlevels of supervision at kidding, there is apreference for single births. Duringpregnancy and lactation, an Angora doeis also growing fleece, which requiresadditional energy.

• In more intensively managed enterprises,multiple births are less of a concern andmay be actively encouraged throughgenetic selection and nutritionalmanagement during the reproductivecycle. Does rearing multiple offspringhave increased nutritional requirementsand thus require extra feed. Carefulmonitoring and intervention as requiredat kidding will help to increase thesurvival rate of multiple births. Thebenefits of increased management andfeed inputs are more offspring and morehigh value kid fleece. An example ofsuch a system is presented in RowenaDoyle and Bob and June Liddy’s CaseStudy which appears in the toolkit at theend of this module.

Fleece:

• Dense, uniform fleece across the body.

• Absence of medullated and kemp fibres.

• Lustrous fleece.

• Well defined and balanced style andcharacter.

• Acceptable levels of grease – excessivegrease or dryness is undesirable6.Grease protects the fibre from weatherand ultra violet radiation. Mohair fleecehas substantially less grease than merinowool7. Yields of 75%-85% are common.Excessive dryness can result in aperished fibre tip, which reduces fibrelength. Varying fibre length within astaple will give the staple a tapered,‘tippy’ appearance, reducing itsprocessing value.

• Ability to maintain fleece – no fibreshedding.

• No pigmented fibres should be presenton fleece bearing areas of the body.Coloured fibres have the potential tocontaminate the fleece.


Six month old weaner kid Angora goats ready forshearing.

6 Mohair Australia, 2005, Angora Breed Standards, Mohair Australia Ltd, Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008, <http://www.mohair.org.au/fibre>.7 McGregor, B.A., 2002, Extent and source of short and cotted mohair, Project No: DAV-192A, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Rural Industries

Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, viewed 27 February 2008, <http://rirdc.gov.vic.au/reports/RNF/02-108.pdf>Rural Industries Research andDevelopment Corporation.


2. Mohair production – feeding andmanagement

Module 6 - Husbandry and Module 7 -Nutrition address the topics of feeding andgoat management for meat goats. Much ofthe information presented in these modulesis equally relevant to Angora goats. As youread these modules, please note that mostmohair enterprises would fall into thecategory of an Intensive system. In theintroduction to this manual, intensiveenterprises are defined as follows;“enterprises operating in more temperateenvironments, where inputs are often higherand pastures dominated by improved/exoticspecies”.

However, there are some managementconsiderations, which apply specifically toAngora goats and mohair productionsystems that have not been covered in theearlier modules. These issues will beaddressed in the following section.

The annual production schedule for a mohairenterprise is summarised in the calendarwhich follows.

The calendar has been designed to allow youto alter the monthly schedule to suit yourfarm business. The relative positioning of themanagement actions is fixed, but you maywish to slide the calendar months up ordown to suit your situation.

Note: The items written in plain font areconsidered to be necessary actions, those in italics should be undertaken as requireddepending on farm circumstances.


Months Months Management actions- your farm - example

January o Crutchingo Wigging

February o Wean kids on to fresh paddock(s)o Vaccinate kids* (see Module 6 - Husbandry)

March o Shearingo Classing fleeceo Fleece recording - records may include: individual fleece weight, classing

details and desirable/undesirable traits exhibited by the fleece or goat. Mid side sample for individual fleece testing.

o Drench all goats to control internal parasites#

o Vaccinate mature goats* (see Module 6 - Husbandry)o Provide access to shelter off-shearso Cull excess breeders and maidenso Buck selectiono Lice treatment#

o Supplement with trace elements

April o Provide access to shelter off-shearso Deliver mohair to broker or mohair saleo Increase feed supply pre-joining

May o Joining

June o Crutchingo Wiggingo Foot trimming

July

August

September o Shearingo Classing fleeceo Fleece recording - records may include: individual fleece weight, classing

details and desirable/undesirable traits exhibited by the fleece or goat. Mid side sample for individual fleece testing.

o Drench all goats to control internal parasites#

o Lice treatment#

o Vaccinate mature goats* (see Module 6 - Husbandry)o Provide access to shelter off shearso Control predatorso Prepare kidding paddocks, focusing on shelter, safety, feed and water supply

October o Provide access to shelter off-shearso Kiddingo Kid recording – records may include identification number, sire, dam, birth

date, type of birth and birth weight.o Increase feed supply to does, and ensure that does and newborn kids are

well sheltered o Control predatorso Deliver mohair to broker or mohair sale

November

December o Markingo Identification tagging of kids - if not tagged at birtho Drench all goats, including kids, to control internal parasites. (the timing of

this procedure may vary depending on climatic conditions)#

o Vaccinate kids* (see Module 6 - Husbandry)* In some circumstances, vitamin B1 (thiamine) may be given as an additional injection when vaccinating. Green pasture usually provides sufficient quantities of vitamin B1.

However, if stock do not have access to green feed, deficiency may occur, and therefore an injection of vitamin B1 may be beneficial. For more detail about vitamin B1/thiaminedeficiency refer to Module 7 – Nutrition Toolkit, page 17.

# Parasite control treatments should be administered to all goat classes at the same time, thus reducing the risk of cross contamination should stock from different mobs getmixed together. More information about parasite control and prevention is presented in Module 9 – Parasite Control.


Feeding for mohair production

Whilst it was stated earlier that the majorinfluence on mohair quality is genetics, therole of nutrition needs to be acknowledged.

There is a direct correlation betweenliveweight and fibre diameter. As liveweightincreases, so too does fibre diameter andvice versa. Therefore, management, in termsof stocking rate and nutrition, has animportant role to play.

The influence of nutrition on fibre diametercan also have implications for staplestrength. Fibre diameter will vary along thelength of a fibre in accordance with the levelof nutrition. A rapid change in the nutritionalstatus of the goat, caused by either asignificant variation in feed supply orchanges in the metabolic requirements of theanimal, will cause variation in fibre diameter.Extreme variation in fibre diameter within thestaple may translate to a point of weakness(tenderness), with the potential for a break tooccur. Tenderness reduces the processingpotential of the fleece. Tenderness is notcommon in mohair.

Poor nutrition will result in inferior fleeceproduction in both quality and quantity.

One of the most challenging aspects of afibre production enterprise is themanagement of the doe flock. The greatestnutritional demands are presented bypregnant and lactating does. During thistime, the energy requirements of the doe areparticularly high. Careful planning andpasture/feed management are required tofulfil the doe’s nutritional requirements. Thiscan be difficult to achieve and it is during thisperiod that the impact on fibre quality andquantity will be most marked.

“Angoras are particularly responsive tofeeding; they are an amazing fibre growingmachine”, Roger Clark, Boorowa, NewSouth Wales.

A well bred animal can only fulfil its geneticpotential for mohair production if it issupplied with the appropriate nutrition. If ananimal is not being fully fed, the quality andquantity of mohair produced by thatindividual will be limited. In such cases,improvements to the feed supply willincrease fibre production. Whilst increasednutrition will increase fleece weight, it is alsolikely to cause an increase in fibre diameter,both of which will have implications for thevalue of the clip. Decisions about feeding forfibre production need to be made withcareful consideration for the potentialfinancial return. It is important to do yoursums, factoring in the following items:

• Cost of extra feed

• Price discount for increased fibrediameter

• Income gain from increased quantity andimproved quality

The cost and practicality of feeding toachieve certain production levels also needto be carefully considered when purchasingstock. The fleece production figures quotedfor sale goats need to be tempered by thelevel of nutrition supplied to achieve thoseresults. Are you prepared or able to feed toachieve similar production levels? Are youwilling to accept lower levels of production?

In deciding whether or not to feed livestock,animal welfare and the nutritionalrequirements of the animal should be theprimary consideration.

Another factor to consider in managing thenutrition of your animals is the impact on thenext generation of kids. Nutrition levels of thedoe during pregnancy and early lactation willimpact on the mohair production of theiroffspring. Poor nutrition during these criticalperiods can adversely affect fibre quality overthe lifetime of the progeny. Interactions

between mid pregnancy nutrition andlactation nutrition have been shown toinfluence the follicle development, fibrediameter and fibre length of kids8. Nutritionduring lactation was also shown to impact onthe growth of medullated fibres9.

Management to increase weaningpercentage

Weaning percentage is defined as thenumber of kids weaned as a proportion ofthe number of does joined and will varyaccording to the intensity of yourmanagement system at kidding. In a systemwhere kidding is highly supervised, whichmay include shedding or yarding, frequentchecking of animals and birthing assistanceas required, weaning percentages of 120-130% are achievable. With average levels ofsupervision and intervention, expect aweaning percentage of 60-75%. In a broadacre situation, with minimal supervision orpredator control, weaning percentages of30% are realistic.

Tips to help increase weaning percentages:

• Select kidding paddocks with sufficientfeed and water to support lactating doesso that supplementary feed is not

required. Feeding supplements is adisturbance which should be avoidedduring the kidding period.

• Schedule kidding to coincide with periodsof the year when there is sufficientpaddock feed to meet the increasingnutritional demands of lactating does andgrowing kids.

• Ensure that kidding paddocks are wellsheltered to protect does and newbornsfrom extreme weather and predators.

• Choose kidding paddocks with kid safetyin mind. Avoid potentially hazardoussituations, such as uncovered wells anddeep troughs.

• Netting or hingejoint fences aroundkidding paddocks are an option toeffectively contain kids and reduce therisk of entanglement in fence wires. Note:Barbed wire is particularly hazardous interms of entanglement.

• Secure netting fences with no gaps willdeter some predators, particularly ifnetting is buried below the surface of theground. An electric wire, positioned justabove the ground, around the outsideperimeter of the kidding paddock canalso be an effective means of controllingsome predators. Guard animals areanother option.

• Undertake an on farm-predator controlprogram to reduce predator numbers pre-kidding.

• The practice of flushing, which refers tohigh level feeding pre joining to increaseovulation rates, should only be used insituations where the system is geared tosupport multiple offspring. The nutritionalrequirements to grow quality fleece andraise multiple kids are very high. In orderto successfully raise multiples, does must


8 McGregor, B.A. (1995) Research Compendium 1995: Improving Kid Survival and Fibre Quality by Improved NutritionalManagement of Reproducing Does. Project No: DAV-42A, Agriculture Victoria, Rural Industries Research andDevelopment Corporation, Canberra, viewed 21 February 2008, <http://rirdc.gov.vic.au/pub/compendium/1995/pr-028> .

9 McGregor, B.A. (1995) Research Compendium 1995: Improving Kid Survival and Fibre Quality by Improved NutritionalManagement of Reproducing Does. Project No: DAV-42A, Agriculture Victoria, Rural Industries Research andDevelopment Corporation, Canberra, viewed 21 February 2008, <http://rirdc.gov.vic.au/pub/compendium/1995/pr-028> .

be provided with additional feed inputsand extra support at kidding. Multiplebirths are undesirable in broad-acregrazing systems that operate with minimalsupervision and low levels ofsupplementary feeding.

• Shearing prior to kidding will make iteasier for kids to access the doe’s udderand reduces fleece staining.

• Select does for mothering ability and highfertility (if your system is able to supportmultiple births).

• Check does’ udders after shearing andcull any animals that have damaged teats.

• For more information on this topic refer toModule 6 – Husbandry.

Management to avoid vegetable mattercontamination in fleeces

Vegetable matter contamination will devalueyour mohair clip. The process of carbonising,which is used to remove heavy vegetablematter fault from fleeces, is costly and candamage the fibre.

Fleece lines with vegetable matter fault ofgreater than 4% are considered to have nocommercial value and growers may becharged a handling fee if such product entersthe sale system.

Strategies to reduce vegetable mattercontamination:

• Shear every six months. Longer fleecesare more prone to contamination.

• Identify and understand the lifecycle ofthe weeds and pasture species growingon your property. Avoid grazing pastureswith heavily fleeced goats when plantsare seeding, or when particularly adhesiveplants are present.

• Prepare alternative grazing options, suchas green crop, crop stubble or paddocksthat have been cut for hay/silage, fortimes of year when weed and pastureseeds are likely to be a problem.

• Control problem weeds.

• Schedule shearing to ensure that goatshave short fleeces during periods whenthe contamination risk is high.

• Feed hay on the ground rather than infeeders where goats have to reach up toaccess the hay. This will reduce the risk ofcontamination from falling plant material.

Management to reduce post-shearingmortality

Angoras are very susceptible to cold stress,particularly after shearing. It is thetemperature differential that is important. Thegreatest potential for loss of life is when thetemperature changes dramatically. Wet andwindy conditions are particularly challengingfor newly-shorn goats.

Effective shelter is critical for a mohairenterprise. Shelter from trees alone isinsufficient; sheds with a roof and at leastone wall are recommended. In bad weather,it is not necessary to herd or contain goatsas they will naturally seek out shelter.However, goats do not like to walk into thewind so locate shelters and select postshearing paddocks with this in mind.


At shearing, it is important to watch theweather carefully and listen for sheepgraziers’ weather warnings. If weatherconditions are forecast to deteriorate, avoidwet fleeces and subsequent delays inshearing by moving unshorn goatsundercover. In such circumstances, shorngoats should also be retained under cover, ifspace is available, or moved into wellsheltered paddocks. Ensure that goats arewell fed; being ruminants, the digestiveprocess generates heat, which will help tomaintain body temperature.

3. Harvesting – shearing

Angoras should be shorn at six monthlyintervals. Much of the shearing process issimilar to that of a wool enterprise. Thissection will summarise best practice andhighlight any shearing requirements that aredifferent from those required for sheep.

Shearing shed preparation

• Thoroughly clean the shearing shed priorto shearing. Remove any extraneousmaterial left over from previous shearings.Clear the shed of surplus equipment.Ensure that there are no potentialcontaminants in the shed: Sweep awaydog hairs, cobwebs or foreign fibres;remove any plastic, twine, string or wire;empty rubbish bins.

• Clear yards of contaminants such astwine, weeds and wire.

• Provide ash trays outside the shed forcigarette butts. The shearing shed shouldbe a non-smoking area.

• Check and service all shearingequipment, as required.

• Replenish supplies of cutters, mohaircombs, grinder paper, wool packs, oil,bale clips, stencil ink and first aidprovisions.

• Assess the site for potential safetyhazards and address any problems.

• For further information on shedpreparation and shearing practice refer tothe ClipCare guidelines. Referencedetails for the ClipCare program can befound in Tool 10.1 - Finding furtherinformation.

Shearing plant

• Mohair fleeces are naturally less greasythan wool so, with less lubricant in thefibre there is a tendency for shearinghandpieces to overheat. If shearers findthis a problem, the speed of the shearingplant needs to be slower than it would forshearing sheep. A practical example ofhow this can be achieved is presented inIan and Helen Cathles’ Case Study at theback of this module.

• There are two common types of shearingplant:

o Multi stand overhead gear powered byan electric motor, which is found inmost woolsheds. These will generallyneed adjustment to the pulley systemto allow them to run at a slower speed.

o Individual stand electric plants. Thesecan be purchased with dual speedcontrol, incorporating a slower settingsuitable for mohair.


• For very small flocks, where it is noteconomically sound or practical topurchase a shearing plant, shearing canbe done with hand blades or electricclippers.

Animal preparation

• Muster stock and draft into age groups.Always start with the finest fleeced goatsfirst and proceed with stock classes inorder of increasing fibre diameter: Kids >young goats > adults. This will minimisethe risk of contaminating fine, high valuefleece lines with broader diameter, lowervalue fibre.

• Further information on mustering can befound in Module 6 – Husbandry Toolkit,Tool 6.9.

• Dip goats in water to remove dust, ifrequired. Dipping should be scheduled toallow sufficient time for fleeces to dryprior to the commencement of shearing.

• Allow goats to empty out in the yardsprior to shedding. This will reduce thepotential for manure and urine stain onfleeces.

• Keep goats dry. Watch the weather andreview forecasts. If there is the likelihoodof wet weather, shed as many unshornanimals as practical.

• Crutch and wig goats between shearingsto reduce the incidence of dung and urinestain and avoid seeds in the eyes or hairblindness. The ideal time for crutchingand wigging is approximately four monthsafter shearing.

Shearers

• Arrange shearers and shed hands well inadvance. Mohair Australia Limited andmohair brokers can provide lists ofshearers who specialise in goats.

• Familiarise yourself with the PastoralIndustry Award pay rates. Refer to Tool10.1 – Finding further information forrelevant contact details.

• Negotiate shearer and shedhand pay andconditions. Items that need to beaddressed include rate per animal,provision of meals or payment of mealallowance and who is supplying thecombs.

• Ensure that you are presenting a safeworkplace and operating procedure.Assess the situation and address anyissues of concern. Routine occupationalhealth and safety measures apply to allshearing sheds.

• Recommend the use of ‘mohair combs’.Specialist mohair combs have more teeththan traditional wool combs, reducing therisk of skin and teat cuts.


Shearing using modified equipment at Ian and HelenCathles’ property.

• Make ear plugs available to shearers andshedhands. Noise levels in a shearingshed can be quite high.

4. Marketing

Classing the clip

Classing refers to the practice of sortingfleece into uniform product lines. There is anAustralian Mohair Classing Standard whichpresents a set of descriptors that should beused to separate and classify fleece lines.This standard has been developed by themohair industry with consideration forinternational market requirements10. Details ofthe classing standard are provided in Tool10.3 - Australian Mohair Classing Standard.

Mohair is classed by fibre diameter, length,character and style and fault (vegetablematter, stain, colour, kemp and medullatedfibres).

Producers are encouraged to class their clipto industry standards and complete aspecification sheet in preparation for sale oftheir product. Experienced growers maychoose to class their own clip. In largerenterprises, or where the grower isinexperienced, a professional classer may beemployed.

Depending on the quantity of mohairsupplied and the level of competence of theclasser, the broker may reclass the clip onreceipt at the pooling centre. If the clip hasbeen well classed prior to reaching thepooling facility, there will be minimaladditional classing work required which willreduce the handling fee charged by the firm.

Classing workshops are run on a regularbasis throughout Australia and provide anexcellent opportunity for both inexperiencedand experienced producers to improve theirclassing skills. Further details about classingcourses can be found in Tool 10.1 – Findingfurther information.

When mohair is sold through the poolingsystem, provided that the producer hasattempted to class the clip to industrystandards and completed the necessarypaperwork, he or she will receive a classer’sreport from the broker11. In addition to thisreport, the producer will receive quantitativeinformation about fleece quality and quantity,however this only applies where completesale lots have been presented. This feedbackshould be used to improve future clippreparation and identify potentialmanagement and breeding issues whichcould be addressed to increase productreturns.


Shearing at Sylvania Park, Horsham, Victoria

10 Mohair Australia, 2005, Classing Your Mohair, Mohair Australia Ltd, Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008,<http://www.mohair.org.au/classing>.

11 Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation, 2007, Other Services, Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation, Narrandera,viewed 17 January 2008, <http://ausmohair.com.au/services>.

Brokers encourage producers to attend thewarehouse and go through their clip withthem as a learning experience, to helpimprove the standard of clip preparation.

Complete sale lots are preferred. When thereis insufficient quantity to make up a full lot,similar lines of fleece from different sourcesare bulked together to make a saleable lot. Insuch cases, the individual producer is paidon the basis of the quantity that he or shehas contributed multiplied by the price perkilogram received for the complete sale lot.

Selling the clip

Mohair in Australia is sold in greasy orunprocessed form at auction or by privatetreaty. There are two major mohair brokers inAustralia: National Mohair Pool Pty Ltd andthe Australian Mohair MarketingOrganisation. These organisations class, pooland facilitate the sale of mohair on behalf ofgrowers.

Often an individual producer will haveinsufficient mohair to form a sale lot. In suchcases, brokers sort and pool fleeces from arange of properties to form uniform, saleable

lots12. Brokers offer mohair for sale byauction and/or private treaty. Bales are coresampled and sent for quantitative testing bythe Australian Wool Testing Authority andmost sale lots presented by brokers areaccompanied by certification of weight, fibrediameter, yield and vegetable matter fault13,14.

The majority of Australia’s mohair clip isprocessed overseas. Buyers or agents actingon behalf of interested processors generallysource their mohair requirements through theauction system, private treaty sale throughthe brokers or, less often, direct purchasefrom larger mohair growers.

Mohair auctions are held two to three timesper year. Some producers choose to staggerthe shearing of different classes of goatthroughout the year to improve the frequencyof income. Whilst such a system isadvantageous for cash flow, some of thedisadvantages are that the yearly calendar ofmanagement becomes more complex andthere are additional mustering and handlingrequirements.

Private treaty sales can be made at any timethroughout the year. In some cases this willinvolve a broker and in others the sale will be


Mohair on offer.

12 Mohair Australia, 2005, Mohair Markets, Mohair Australia Ltd, Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008,<http://www.mohair.org.au/market>.

13 Mohair Australia, 2005, Mohair Markets, Mohair Australia Ltd, Narrandera, viewed 11 January 2008,<http://www.mohair.org.au/market>.

14 Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation, 2007, Fleece testing, Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation, Narrandera,viewed 17 January 2008, <http://ausmohair.com.au/testing>.

negotiated directly between a producer andbuyer. Generally, buyers who are seeking topurchase mohair in this manner are lookingfor larger, uniform lines of fleece. Successwith this method of sale requires marketcontacts, good negotiating skills and acomprehensive knowledge of thespecifications and value of the product thatis being offered for sale.

Some innovative producers have developedniche markets, selling mohair direct tospinners and craft users. Skins also have avalue and can be sold for the manufacture ofleather goods.

A statutory levy of 1.5% applies to all mohairsold in Australia. This levy is used to fundresearch and development activities targetedto improve the mohair industry. The levy iscollected by Levy Revenues Services and isdirected to the Rural Industries Research andDevelopment Corporation.


Tool 10.1 Acknowledgements and finding further information

Tool 10.2 Property selection

Tool 10.3 Australian Mohair Classing Standard

Tool 10.4 Mohair brokers and buyers

Case studiesDecision-making and adapting infrastructure

Ian and Helen Cathles

Enterprise diversity for economic diversity

Roger and Meegan Clark

Intensive management to optimise production

Rowena Doyle and Bob and June Liddy

Toolkit 10 – Mohair production

Module 10 – Mohair production Toolkit 10 1

2 Module 10 – Mohair production Toolkit 10

Tool 10.1

AcknowledgementsMeat & Livestock Australia would like toacknowledge the contribution of MohairAustralia Limited and the mohair industry inthe development of the Mohair productionmodule of the MLA Going into goats:Profitable producers' best practice guide.

Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of theinformation contained in this publication.However MLA cannot accept responsibilityfor the accuracy or completeness of theinformation or opinions contained in thepublication. You should make your ownenquiries before making decisionsconcerning your interests. MLA accepts noliability for any losses incurred if you relysolely on this publication.

Finding further informationUseful contacts

For all enquiries contact Mohair Australia as follows:

Mohair Australia LimitedPO Box 22,Narrandera NSW 2700Tel: 02 6959 2069Fax: 02 6959 1817Email: [email protected]

References

Towards a perfect Angora goat enterprise.Testing management strategies and financialfeasibility of Angora goats for theproduction of mohair and meat. Chaffey, S.2006. Rural Industries Research andDevelopment Corporation, Publication No06/086, RIRDC Project No OSE1A.

Selecting High Performing Angoras.Ferguson, M.B. and McGregor, B.A. 2005.Rural Industries Research and DevelopmentCorporation, Publication No 05/141, RIRDCProject No DAV-191A.

Extent and Source of Short and CottedMohair. McGregor, B. 2002. Rural IndustriesResearch and Development Corporation,Publication No 02/108, RIRDC Project NoDAV-192A.

Nutrition and management of goats indrought. McGregor, B.A. 2005. RuralIndustries Research and DevelopmentCorporation. Publication No 05/188, RIRDCProject No DAV-217A.

Increasing the capability of mohairproducers to produce premium fibre.McGregor, B. 2007. Rural IndustriesResearch and Development Corporation.RIRDC Project No DAV-209A.

Adoption of benchmarking to increaseproduction of mohair. McGregor, B. 2007.Rural Industries Research and DevelopmentCorporation. RIRDC Project No DAV-224A.

Producing and marketing quality mohair.McGregor, B.A. 2007. Rural IndustriesResearch and Development Corporation,Publication No 07/026, RIRDC Project NoDAV-209A.

Australian Goat Notes. Simmonds, A.J.2001. Australian Cashmere Growers’Association Limited. This is a published collection of papers andnotes covering all aspects of goatproduction. Contributors include many ofthe state departments of agriculture, theRural Industries Research and DevelopmentCorporation (RIRDC), breed societies andbreed associations.

High Specification Classing of Mohair.Stapleton D.L. 2007. Rural IndustriesResearch and Development Corporation.Publication No 07/170, RIRDC Project NoNMP-1A.

Australian Handbook of Angora Goats andMohair Production. Stapleton, D.L. andCunningham, D. 2007. The Australian GoatReport.

Breeding for Helminth resistance in fibregoats. Walkden-Brown, S. 2007. RuralIndustries Research and DevelopmentCorporation. RIRDC Project No UNE-69A.

The Australian Goat Report Published fortnightlyEmail: [email protected]

Courses and workshops

EDGEnetwork® courses are availablenationally. Prograze® is a pasture course fortemperate pasture areas. To find your statecontacts for EDGEnetwork® contact Meat &Livestock Australia.

GrazingforProfit™ Training School -business school for grazing industry.Includes a nutrition and grazingmanagement component. ResourceConsulting Services (RCS), SandgateQueensland. www.rcs.au.com

Mohair brokers conduct mohair classingand training workshops. Contact eitherAustralian Mohair Marketing OrganisationLimited or National Mohair Pool Pty Ltd.Broker contact details are presented in Tool10.4 – Mohair brokers and buyers.

Breed Societies conduct animal selectionworkshops. Mohair Australia Limited is thebreed society for Angoras.

A CD is available from Mohair Australia tohelp manage and monitor strategies for andthe financial performance of an Angora andmohair enterprise.

Websites

Rural Industries Research and DevelopmentCorporation(information on mohair research projects)www. rirdc.gov.vic.au

Meat & Livestock Australiawww.mla.com.au

Mohair Australia Limited www.mohair.org.au

Australian Government Department ofEducation, Employment and WorkplaceRelations (information on Pastoral IndustryAwards, including shearing rates)www.dewr.gov.au

Bureau of Meteorology (weather forecasts) www.bom.gov.au.

Goat Industry Council of Australiawww.gica.com.au

Elders - wool division (information aboutElders ClipCare)http://wool.elders.com.au/businesstoolsdetail.asp?RefID=5

Mohair South Africawww.mohair.co.za

Texas Angora Goat Raisers’ Associationwww.txangoragoat.com



Tool 10.2

Property selection

Large areas of Australia have the potentialto run Angoras. As a general comment,Angora goats are suitable for those areaswhere wool sheep and cropping areconducted successfully.

Module 1 – Property planning is a goodstarting point for analysing the potentialsuitability of a particular property and/orarea for establishing a goat enterprise. In afibre producing enterprise, two of the mostcritical elements for consideration are theclimate and the potential for vegetablematter contamination of fleeces.

Climate

In general, goats prefer dry, warmenvironments, but like all grazing basedenterprises, rainfall is the key driver of feedproduction.

The Australian mohair industry is nowbreeding larger framed, finer fleecedanimals that are suited to a wide range ofclimate zones.

Unlike the meat sector, low input rangelandsystems (extensive systems) are not suitablefor mohair production because of theamount and type of vegetation, particularlyburrs, which exist in these areas. Withproperties spanning large areas, musteringin rangeland environments is more difficultand time consuming which isdisadvantageous for a mohair enterprisewhere goats need to be mustered at leastfour times a year for husbandry (crutchingand wigging) and shearing. Anotherconsideration in rangeland areas is theinfluence of wild bucks which would beundesirable in a breeding operation wherethe intent is maintaining or improving fleecequality.

Areas where the average annual rainfall isgreater than 1,000mm are generallyconsidered less desirable for mohairproduction.

There are also some cautions for areas ofhigh rainfall, cold temperatures and highaltitude, particularly where wind chill is afactor. In such conditions, the followingfactors require extra consideration:

• Shelter – Shelter sheds are essential.Such structures should have a roof and atleast one wall to protect goats fromprevailing wind and rain.

• Shearing times – Shearing should betimed to avoid the harshest extremes ofthe climate.

• Foot trimming – In the absence of rockyground, soft soil conditions maynecessitate regular foot trimming to keephooves in shape.

• Internal parasites – Moist, mild conditionsfavour the survival of internal parasitelarvae. If animals are forced to grazeclose to the ground, regular monitoring ofparasite burdens (faecal egg counts) anddrenching may be required.

Vegetable matter contamination

In selecting a location for a fibre enterprise,the type of vegetation growing in aparticular area is an important considerationin terms of the risk of contamination. Therisk of fleece contamination is high in areaswhere there is a large presence of plantswith particularly adhesive or invasive spinesor seed heads.

Vegetable matter contamination significantlyreduces fleece values and if greater than4% the fleece is considered to have nocommercial value.


Angoras can be used to manage theseeding of weeds. Reduced seeding can beachieved by introducing goats to a weedinfested area after shearing and prior toseed head maturation. The Angoras will eatthe seeds before they mature, preventingseed set and reducing the possibility of fibrecontamination. This technique works wellwith species such as thistles, spear grassand barley grass.

Management can help to limit the level ofcontamination but, under conditions wherethere is a high plant challenge, is unlikely toprevent vegetable matter fault. Identifyproblem plant species and avoid areaswhere these species grow in abundance.Some particularly problematic plantsinclude Trefoil (Medicago species),Noogoora burr (Xanthium occidentale) andHorehound (Marrubium vulgare).


Tool 10.3

Australian Mohair Classing Standard15

Recommended micron ranges for the various types:

FINE KID While still finer than 25 microns, two distinct types have developedand should be kept separate. 1. The well defined staple.2. The spongy type which lacks staple definition.

KID 25/27 microns.

STRONG KID 27/29.5 microns.

YOUNG GOAT 29.5/32 microns.

FINE, FINE HAIR 32/34 microns.

FINE HAIR 34/36 microns.

HAIR 36 microns and coarser.

Note: Each micron range reflects a certain style and character, ie trueness to type. Themohair must look the type. The more stylish mohair may be stronger than it looks and careis needed when classing.

Recommended lengths for the various types:

KID A length. 12-16cmB length. 10-12cmC length. 6-10cm

YOUNG GOAT A length. 13-16cmB length. 11-13cmC length. 6-11cm

ADULT A length. 13-16cmB length. 11-13cmC length. 6-11cm

Note: It is most important to note that these lengths refer to the average length of thefibres in the staple and not the maximum staple length. Tippy mohair should be placed inshorter lines. C length types must be free of vegetable fault and contain only ODD (light)kemp levels. Tender mohair must be included in C types.

15 This information has been provided by Mohair Australia Limited.


Recommended lines for style and character and kemp:

S (Super) Superior in all respects. Absolutely no kemp. A length only.

A/B Not as superior as above. No kemp. Good bulk, style and character,handle and lustre.

(“BULK” refers to solidity of staples or the close packing of fibres).

K Less bulky fleeces of the above. Average style and character. ODDkemp (ie ODD to light kemp).

KK Average to poor bulk. Lacking in style and character. Medium kemplevels.

KKK Poor bulk. Heavy kemp. Straight fibred, harsh handling mohair,displaying very poor mohair characteristics.

O/GROWN Over grown, long fibre. Separated for Kids, Young Goat (YG) andAdult (A) only. Any kempy or poor fleeces are sorted into KKK orCot lines.

STAINS These are outsorts and are expected to be mixed for micron, lengthand kemp. Light stains should be kept separate. Also Kid lightstains should be kept separate where possible.

COTS These are outsorts and are expected to be mixed for micron, lengthand kemp.

Soft cots Cots that can be pulled open by hand. Wherepossible, Kid cots to be kept separate.

Hard cots Cots that cannot be pulled open by hand and poorkempy cots.

Faulty cots Cots containing up to VV fault content and inferiorcots.

Note: Stain cots are NCV (No Commercial Value).

CARBONISING Mohair containing excessive fault. This cannot be combed out andmust be treated with acid to remove the fault.

COLOUR All coloured mohair. Generally NCV. Pigmented fleeces may be keptseparate and offered for sale if sufficient quantities are available.

LOCKS All second cuts, sweepings and any very short mohair.


Other factors to be taken into consideration:

YIELD While yield is important, it is just a calculation. The lower the yield –the lower the price. Low yielding fleeces should be kept separate.

FAULT Vegetable fault must be taken into consideration. Lines with no “V”suffix must be Free or Nearly Free (FNF) of fault – under 1% of fault.The more fault, the more it costs to process.

Recommended vegetable fault suffixes:

“V” 1 – 3% of fault. Light fault

“VV” 3 – 6%. Medium fault.

“CARBO” Carbonising mohair. Heavy fault. (To clear the fault, themohair is treated with acid). Generally NCV.

Note: It is worth noting here that any faulty C length mohair should be included in a faultyKKK line. Mohair containing Noogoora, Bathurst and Ring burrs cannot be carbonisedand are NCV.

The following is the recommended list of sorting lines for style and character, length, finenessand kemp. It is clear not all these lines will be used during the season. Common sense shouldprevail, and blending should be done with care, keeping in mind the coefficients.

TYPE DESC. MICRON LENGTH KEMP VM

ASFKID Superior in all respects 25.0 and finer 12-16CM NIL FNF.

A F KID Not as superior as above. Good bulk/style. 25.0 and finer 12-16CM NIL FNF.

B F KID Not as superior as S A F KID. Good bulk/style. 25.0 and finer 10-12CM NIL FNF.

S A KID Superior in all respects. 25.0-27.0 12-16CM NIL FNF.

A KID Not as stylish as S A KID. Good bulk/style. 25.0-27.0 12-16CM NIL FNF.

B KID Not as stylish. Includes S B KID. Good bulk/style. 25.0-27.0 10-12CM NIL FNF.

A S KID Strong KID. Similar style to A KID. 27.0-29.5 13-17CM NIL FNF.

B S KID Strong KID. Similar style to B KID. 27.0-29.5 11-13CM NIL FNF.

A KID K Average bulk/style of above A length lines. Less than 27m 12-16CM ODD Kemp FNF.

B KID K Average bulk/style of above B length lines. Less than 27m 12-12CM ODD Kemp FNF.

KID KK Average to poor bulk. Lacking Style. 25.0-27.0 10-16CM Med. Kemp FNF.

C KID All short Kid. Any KK Kid into KKK line. 25.0-27.0 6-10CM Light Kemp FNF.

S A YG Superior in all respects. 29.5-32.0 13-16CM NIL FNF.

A YG Not as superior as above. Good bulk/style. 29.5-32.0 13-16CM NIL FNF.

B YG Not as superior as S A YG. Good bulk/style. 29.5-32.0 11-13CM NIL FNF.

A YG K Average bulk/style. Average style of A YG. 29.5-32.0 13-16CM ODD Kemp FNF.

B YG K Average bulk/style. Average style of B YG. 29.5-32.0 11-13CM ODD Kemp FNF.

YG KK Average to poor bulk. Lacking style. 29.5-32.0 11-16CM Med. Kemp FNF.




C YG All short YG. Any KK YG into KKK line. 29.5-32.0 6-11CM Light Kemp FNF.

A F FH Fine Adult. Must have fine characteristics. 32.0-34.0 13-16CM NIL FNF.

B F FH Fine Adult. Must have fine characteristics. 32.0-34.0 11-13CM NIL FNF.

S A FH Superior in all respects. 34.0-36.0 13-16CM NIL FNF.

A FH Not as superior as S A FH. Good bulk/style. 34.0-36.0 13-16CM NIL FNF.

B FH Not as superior as S A FH.Good bulk/style. 34.0-36.0 11-13CM NIL FNF.

A FH K Average bulk/style. Average style of A FH. 34.0-36.0 13-16CM ODD Kemp FNF.

B FH K Average bulk/style. Average style of B FH. 34.0-36.0 11-13CM ODD Kemp FNF.

FH KK Average to poor bulk. Lacking style. 34.0-36.0 11-16CM Med. Kemp FNF.

C FH All short FH. Any KK FH into KKK line. 34.0-36.0 6-11CM Light Kemp FNF.

A H Good to best style and bulk. 36.0 and coarser. 13-16CM NIL FNF.

B H Good to best style and bulk. 36.0 and coarser. 11-13CM NIL FNF.

H K Average bulk/style. Average style of above 36.0 and coarser. 11-16CM Light Kemp FNF.

H KK Average to poor bulk. Lacking style. 36.0 and coarser. 11-16CM Med. Kemp FNF.

KID O/G All O/G kids. KK into KKK line 25.0-29.0 Over 16CM Light Kemp Light VM.

YG O/G All O/G YG. KK into KKK line. 29.0-33.0 Over 16CM Light Kemp Light VM.

FH O/G All O/G FH. KK into KKK line. 34.0 and coarser Over 16CM Light Kemp Light VM.

KKK Poor style/bulk. All qualities. Harsh handling. Any 6CM + Heavy KempLight VM.

F L STN KID Light stain. No dark stain. 27.0 and finer 10-16CM Light Kemp Light VM.

L STN Light stain. No dark stain. 27.0 and coarser. 10-16CM Light Kemp Light VM.


H STN All heavy pen and urine stain. Any micron 10-16CM Light Kemp Light VM.

COT S Soft cots. Heavy KEMP into COT H. Any micron Any Med Kemp Light VM.

COT H All hard cots including KKK cots. No MATS-NCV. Any micron Any Any Light VM.

LKS All second cuts and sweepings. Any short Mohair. Any micron Under 6CM Any Light VM.

CARBO All heavy VM Mohair Any micron Any Any Heavy VM.

Note:

o A KID K/B KID K also includes fluffy style mohair from F KID lines.

o VM classifications apply as required, ie suffixes of V and VV as required on any ofthe above lines. However it must be remembered blending of lines may benecessary due to quantities.

o Contamination and coloured fleeces are NCV.

o Boer Cross (no coloured fibres) and Cashgora into KKK line. If under 6CM andalso heavy kemp – NCV.

o In the KEMP column, the classification of “ODD KEMP” in the “K” lines indicatesOdd Kemp average but still includes Light kemp.


Tool 10.4

Mohair Brokers and BuyersMohair Brokers

NATIONAL MOHAIR POOL

Central ClassingCentre/WarehuseThe Escort WayCUDAL NSW 2864

Phone: 02 6364 209702 6364 2132

Fax: 02 6364 2323

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.nationalmohair.com.au

AUSTRALIAN MOHAIR MARKETING ORGANISATION LTD

Classing Centre and WarehouseLot 3 River Street(PO Box 16)NARRANDERA NSW 2700

Phone: 02 6959 2988

Fax: 02 6959 3004


Website: www.ausmohair.com.au

Mohair Buyers

LAYCOCK SPECIALITY FIBRES PTY LTD

Mohair Buyers & Exporters2/44 Carrington RoadGUILDFORD NSW 2161

Phone: 02 9632 5334

Fax: 02 9632 4221

Store Ph/Fax: 03 5229 4742


AGRAY PTY LTD

1/81-85 Orrong CresNORTH CAULFIELD VIC 3161

Phone: 03 9311 6608

Fax: 03 9527 6221


DEWAVRIN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Yenora Distribution CentreDeniston AveGUILDFORD NSW 2161

Phone: 0411 691 780



Case studyDECISION MAKING AND ADAPTING INFRASTRUCTURE

NAME: Ian and Helen Cathles

PROPERTY NAME: Cooradigbee

PROPERTY LOCATION: Wee Jasper, NSW (Southern Tablelands)

PROPERTY SIZE: 3,000ha

NUMBER OF GOATS: 1,400

MAIN GOAT ENTERPRISE: Mohair production

TARGET MARKET: Mohair – exportStud – all animals are reared under commercial grazingconditions and sold to producers who are aiming toincrease their flock and maximise returns.

OTHER FARM ENTERPRISES: Cooradigbee Conferencing and QuartersSuperfine merino sheepLand leased to neighbours

Ian and Helen started their goat enterprise in the mid 1980’s, as they were tired of battlingweeds. The terrain is difficult, with limestone outcrops and steep bush country. Increasinglabour costs were making it uneconomic to keep control of noxious weeds using conventionalmethods.

At the time, the options were dairy, cashmere or mohair production. Having investigated therange of breeds, they came to the conclusion that Angora goat behaviour was similar to thatof sheep, in so much as they are not an animal that tends to go over fences - they will gothrough holes in or under fences, but not over. This was the deciding factor.

Ian explains that: “The ‘goat’ decision was made purely on a weed control basis to start andwe consciously decided that any income we might be able to get from the goats was abonus”.

At the time, sourcing goats was a problem. To acquire any number of animals meant obtaininggroups of 5-30 animals at a time from properties spread across a wide area. Ultimately, theywere able to buy out a couple of complete flocks and their enterprise started to grow.

All animals are paddock birthed and reared in a broad acre model with Maremma guard dogsused to protect the flock from predators. Over the years, the Angora flock built up to 2,500head, run in conjunction with about 10,000 superfine wool merino sheep. Angora goats havewhite hair that dyes extremely well so the risk of contaminating the wool clip was minimised.However, Ian and Helen are very conscious of the contamination risk and make sure that theshearing shed is very well cleaned between goats and sheep.

One of the complications that they encountered in shearing goats was that mohair fleeces donot have a natural lubricant so there was potential for handpieces to overheat. Ian adjustedthe overhead gear to minimise that risk, reducing its speed from 2,800rpm to 2,000rpm whichallowed the handpiece to run much cooler.

On one of their properties they purchased multi speed shearing plants that ran from agenerator and on the second they simply adapted the existing shearing plant. In the lattercase, the shearing shed had overhead gear driven by an electric motor. Ian adapted the plantby getting a dual speed pulley made up for the electric motor. With this in place, Ian points outthat: “The time to change speed of the overhead gear is literally five minutes”.

At one stage, Ian and Helen experimented with crossing their lower grade (cull) Angoras withBoer bucks for the meat trade however they encountered a major problem with predators. Thelosses that they suffered in getting animals to weaning were too high to sustain. At the time,the long distance to the nearest abattoir was not practical nor economic for the transport ofsmaller consignments. Coupled with no fleece value as a backup for the meat enterprise, theychose to concentrate on mohair production.

In about 2002 they decided to leaseout some of their land to neighboursand downsize their farming operation,reducing stock numbers to 1,000Angoras and 1,500 superfine merinos.Drought forced further reductions inthe sheep flock with only breedersretained. The goat flock has beenmaintained and, in the last twelvemonths, increased owing toprofitability.

Because all animals are raised underan extensive management system,weighing and testing of the 2nd and3rd shearing fleeces (1-2 year old) ofstud animals is carried out to identifysuperior fleece traits.

Bucks are not selected until at least 2years of age to make sure desirablefleece characteristics are maintainedin adult fleeces as well as identifyingmaximum growth rates for bodyweight. This also allows animals to betested under a variety of climate andpasture conditions.


Pulley modification.

In relation to their drought management strategy, Ian comments that: “Drought feeding hasbeen simplified since we started to feed 14% pellets instead of straight grain. The biosecurityfeature of not bringing in weeds with the grain has been enormous. The pellets are easier tostart feeding the goats and sheep and the balance of protein, fibre and energy is just right forthe goats. We find that dividing the ration into three feeds per week is ideal with the goats notsuffering any digestive upsets. In the past we had tried stretching grain feeding out to everyfourth day, which had resulted in stock losses.”

An example of a typical Classing Report for this property is presented below:

Last name Test No Line weight Grower class Test Diam’ Test CV Assigned

CATHLES C053 198 BFFH 34.8 31.6 BFH

CATHLES C054 201.5 BFFHK 32.5 41.8 BFFHK

CATHLES C055 206 BYG 31.6 30.1 BYG

CATHLES C056 175 BFFH 32.2 29.5 BFFH

CATHLES C057 201 BFFH 34.9 31.8 BFH

CATHLES C058 103 BKID 25.6 27.7 BKID

CATHLES CO59 87 BSK 28.2 26.6 SBSK

CATHLES C060 51.5 BFK 24.1 26.1 BFK

CATHLES C061 79 BYG 31.4 27.1 BYG

CATHLES C062 52 BFH 37 29.2 BFH


Case studyENTERPRISE DIVERSITY FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSITY

NAME: Roger and Meegan Clark

PROPERTY NAME: Hillrose

PROPERTY LOCATION: Boorowa, NSW

PROPERTY SIZE: 800ha


MAIN GOAT ENTERPRISE: Commercial mohair production

TARGET MARKET: Mohair – exportMeat – older cast for age animals sold for thecommodity meat market

OTHER FARM ENTERPRISES: Viticulture, crossbred lambs, crops and cattle

Roger and Meegan Clark’s farm business is comprised of five different enterprises: Mohair,viticulture, crossbred lambs, crops and cattle. Mohair contributes to the income stream withsales from twice yearly shearing.

One of the main benefits of such a diverse mix of enterprises is the pattern of cashflow. Withproduct sales spread across the year, the income line is relatively level, in contrast to thetroughs and peaks experienced in many single enterprise businesses.

Roger explains that the key to managing the business is organisation and planning. Theenterprises that make up the Clark’s business have been selected because they suit thegrowing conditions and fit together well in the farming calendar. There is also a strong degreeof complementarity between the enterprises, particularly in relation to grazing management.

Sheep, cattle and goats have different grazing patterns which, when combined in a grazingsystem, have benefits in term of weed control, promotion of desirable species, pastureutilisation and uniformity of grazing pressure across pastures. In combination, sheep and cattleor goats and cattle have few common internal parasites, so cross grazing can have realbenefit in terms of implementing strategies to control internal parasites.

The inclusion of grazing animals in a cropping system offers a productive way to reduce trashlevels in crop stubbles. Strategic grazing can also assist with weed control in the vineyard. Therotation of crops and pastures provides an effective disease break and additional opportunitiesto control pests and weeds in the move from one phase to another. (For information on thecomplementary aspects of different enterprise mixes refer to Module 1 – Property planning.)

Roger runs Angoras as a self replacing herd. Wethers are the first to be culled when climaticconditions require a reduction in grazing pressure.

All young animals are run on to replace the older wethers and breeding does as the progenyare generally of superior quality to their mothers. Some buck kids are run on as replacementsires and outside bucks are also used to introduce new blood and superior genetics.


Younger animals are most profitable to run as their fleeces attract the highest prices perkilogram. Older and inferior animals are culled into the meat trade.

Roger prefers to select animals in their 4th to 5th fleeces when they more accurately exhibittheir genetic potential.

Commenting on the relative contribution of fibre and meat production to a mixed farmbusiness, Roger points out that with a mohair enterprise: “If a doe fails to produce a kid, shestill produces fibre which represents income; no kid may equal about a kilogram of extra fibreon the doe.” In a meat enterprise, a breeding female that does not produce an offspringpresents a cost to the enterprise without an income. Along similar lines, later joining at twoyears is not seen as such a disadvantage in a fibre enterprise because the young animal isgrowing saleable fleece in the interim.



Case studyINTENSIVE MANAGEMENT TO OPTIMISE PRODUCTION

NAME: Rowena Doyle, Bob and June Liddy

PROPERTY NAME: Sylvania Park

PROPERTY LOCATION: Horsham, Victoria.

PROPERTY SIZE: 243ha


MAIN GOAT ENTERPRISE: Mohair production

TARGET MARKET: Mohair - exportMeat - capretto to butchers and restaurants- cull animals for exportHides - export and craft industry

OTHER FARM ENTERPRISES: Cattle, crops, accommodation and tourism

Rowena Doyle and Bob and June Liddy run a mixed enterprise operation incorporating goatsfor meat and fibre. In their business, weaning percentage is critical.

Having a high weaning percentage allows a heavy culling program. The greatest intensity ofculling occurs within the young goat flock, generating income from the sale of meat andleather products. Goats are culled based on fleece quality and physical traits. Most buck kidsare culled along with the bottom 25% of doe kids. High selection pressure facilitates rapidgenetic improvement within the flock.

Culling decisions are generally made when goats are six to twelve months of age. Angoraslend themselves well to a secondary meat enterprise because they are smaller and slowermaturing than most meat breeders. Angoras can stay within the specifications for premiumcapretto for longer than meat breeds. During this time, a producer can shear one or two highlyvalued kid fleeces.

Intensive management during the kidding period is an important factor in achieving the 100%weaning percentage which is the average rate for this business. Does are joined at 18 monthsof age which can lower the kidding percentage as younger animals are less likely to join in thefirst year than mature does. However, the benefit of joining younger animals is that it increasesthe rate at which improved genetics move through into the flock.

The management system at kidding time involves the penning of recently birthed does andtheir kids. Pregnant does are carefully monitored in the kidding paddocks. The does and kidsare collected on the day of birth and transported to a shed where pens have been set up. Thisprocess is aided by the fact that goats usually give birth during daylight hours.

The machinery shed doubles as the kidding shed. The machinery is cleared out and about 70temporary pens are constructed in the shed. Does with multiple kids are allocated to individualpens, whilst singles may be housed in single pens or larger yards depending on the weatherand time of birth. If conditions are wet and the birth occurs close to dark, a doe with a singlekid will be individually penned. If the weather is fine, does with singles will be placed in largeryards with a small number of like animals; approximately five does with kids per yard.


Doe condition (teats and milk supply) is carefully monitored to ensure that kids are being wellfed. Kids are identity tagged and recorded in the kidding book. Doe kids receive coloured siretags at birth. This information is correlated with joining records.

Once the manager is confident that does and kids are well bonded and that the kids arestrong and feeding well, they are moved on to high quality, improved pastures. This usuallyoccurs at around two days after birth.

The kidding period lasts for 6-8 weeks during which time 400 does are managed by onelabour unit.

Another feature of this business is the complementarity between enterprises. The mix of goats,cattle and crops works very well. Cross grazing with cattle and goats offers enhanced internalparasite control, opportunities for weed control and increased pasture utilisation. In thecropping phase, stubble grazing provides a valuable source of feed in late summer whenpasture is in short supply whilst at the same time reducing weed and trash levels in thepaddock in preparation for the next crop.

module 10 - mohair production - meat & livestock australia

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