Angora goat
The Angora is the goat that grows mohair, a long, lustrous fibre that hangs in ringlets and is shorn twice a year. The average American Angora gives about 5.3 lb at each shearing. It is a small, horned goat with drooping ears: does weigh 70 to 110 lb. It is also one of the more delicate farm animals. It needs shelter after shearing and at kidding, and close attention to parasites.
- Temperament
- Friendly
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Angora right for you?
Good fit if
- You want fibre. The average goat gives about 5.3 lb of mohair at each of two shearings a year
- You have brush to clear. Angoras browse and do well on land unsuited to other farming
- You want a small, friendly goat and can give it shelter
Poor fit if
- You want an easy first goat. Oklahoma State calls the breed among the most delicate of domesticated animals
- You cannot shelter goats after shearing or at kidding. Shorn goats and newborn kids chill easily in cold, damp weather
- You want a lot of kids. Twins are not the usual birth
- You want a meaty carcass. Angora carcasses are thinner fleshed than those of sheep fed the same way
Appearance and varieties
An Angora should be covered from head to tail, and down the legs at least to the knees, with dense, lustrous mohair. Ideally the fleece falls in ringlets. Oklahoma State describes two lock types: the ringlet or C type, tight ringlets along almost the whole length, which is the finest mohair, and the flat lock or B type, which is wavier and bulkier.
The head is straight to slightly convex in profile, with medium-length drooping ears. Both sexes have horns. A buck's bend back and down and spread away from the neck, and on a mature buck can reach 2 ft or more. A doe's are lighter and shorter, seldom over 9 or 10 in.
It is a small goat next to dairy breeds. Mature does weigh 70 to 110 lb and mature bucks 180 to 225 lb, though bucks take more than five years to get there.54
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| White fleece (no coloured fibre) | The American Angora Goat Breeders' Association standard disqualifies coloured fibre on the fleece-bearing parts of the body.5 |
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mohair | About 5.3 lb a shearing, twice a year4 | The average goat in the United States. |
| Staple length | 12–15 cm (roughly 5–6 in)45 | The breed standard's ideal is at least 6 in of growth in six months. |
| Kid crop | 60–70% in large range bands; slightly over 100% in well-managed small flocks4 | Kids per 100 does. |
| Breeding season | August to November1 | Gestation is about 145 to 150 days. |
| Meat | Thinner fleshed than sheep4 | Dressing percentages are lower than for sheep fed the same way. Meat from young goats in good condition is well regarded. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
Shelter matters more for this breed than for most goats. After each shearing an Angora can freeze to death in cold, damp weather, and the association says the risk lasts up to six weeks. Sheds and good feeding usually prevent it.
Newborn kids chill much more easily than lambs, so the association advises an enclosed kidding barn in colder climates. Oklahoma State says storms at kidding and shearing time cause heavy losses.
For goats in general Cornell's minimum is 12 to 15 sq ft of shed floor per doe when she also has a yard, and 25 sq ft if she stays in all winter. The shelter should have a dry, well-drained floor and protect the goat from rain and severe winds. Cornell notes that horned goats need wider fence mesh, 12 in between verticals, so that horns do not get caught.
The association also warns that dogs and other predators find young goats easier prey than lambs.147
Feed
Angoras are browsers. They do well on range with brush, and the association says they also adapt to grain fields, stubble grazing or confinement with roughage added.
The association stresses good nutrition for young goats up to 18 months, for does in the last six weeks of pregnancy and for at least the first eight weeks of lactation. It suggests a 16% protein ration for weaned kids, and that yearling does weigh at least 60 lb before breeding.
Provide water daily, warmed in cold weather. For goats in general Penn State advises a goat mineral mix, because forage rarely has enough minerals and most sheep products are too low in copper for goats.148
Health
Oklahoma State calls the Angora among the most delicate of domesticated animals. It is more easily damaged by internal parasites than sheep are, and the association says parasites, coccidiosis included, must be taken seriously.
The association also names urinary calculi as a cause of deaths in bucks each year.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. Work with a vet who treats sheep and goats, or ask your county extension office.41
Where to buy
We found no dated breeder page with prices, so we don't quote a range.
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Angora Goat Breeders' Association membership list | Directory | Members listed by state |
History
The breed comes from the district of Angora in Asia Minor, in what is now central Turkey, and is very old; Oklahoma State cites records of mohair from biblical times. Mohair became valuable in trade early in the nineteenth century.
Early imports to Europe, including a pair taken by Charles V about 1554, did not establish mohair production. Angoras taken to South Africa in 1838 did. South Africa, the United States and Turkey became the leading mohair producers.
The American Angora Goat Breeders' Association was established in 1900 and keeps its office in Rocksprings, Texas. Over 90% of American mohair in recent years has come from Texas.412
Common questions
What are Angora goats used for?
Mohair. The Angora is raised primarily for its fleece, which is shorn twice a year. Surplus goats are also used for meat.12
How much mohair does an Angora goat produce?
Oklahoma State puts the average American Angora at about 5.3 lb a shearing, with two shearings a year. The fibre should grow at least 1 in a month.45
How big do Angora goats get?
Mature does weigh 70 to 110 lb. Mature bucks usually weigh 180 to 225 lb but do not reach full weight until after five years of age.4
Do Angora goats have horns?
Yes, both sexes. A buck's horns spiral back and away from the head and can reach 2 ft or more. A doe's are much smaller, seldom over 9 or 10 in.4
Where do Angora goats come from?
The district of Angora in Asia Minor, in what is now central Turkey. It is a mountainous area with a dry climate and extreme temperatures.42
Are Angora goats good for beginners?
The American Angora Goat Breeders' Association standard disqualifies coloured fibre on the fleece-bearing parts of the body, and lists black fibre in spots and black horns among the disqualifying faults.41
What colour are Angora goats?
White, under the American Angora Goat Breeders' Association standard, which disqualifies coloured fibre on the fleece-bearing parts of the body.5
Is mohair the same as angora wool?
The Angora goat's fibre is called mohair. Oklahoma State describes it as much like wool chemically, but smoother, so it does not felt as wool does; it is strong, elastic, lustrous and takes dye well.4
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- American Angora Goat Breeders' Association, An Introduction to the Angora Goat and Mohair.
- Penn State Extension, Meat Goat Production.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Meat Goat Breeds.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Angora Goats (archived copy).
- American Angora Goat Breeders' Association, Breed Standard for Angora Goats, revised June 1, 2011 (PDF).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Goat Facilities.
- Penn State Extension, Dairy Goat Production.
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