The Angora [[Goats|goat]] is a fiber goat breed originating in the Ankara (formerly Angora) region of central Turkey. The breed is the source of mohair, a luxurious, silky fiber with a distinctive luster and high tensile strength. Angora goats are the only goat breed whose primary commercial purpose is fiber production, and they are the most productive fiber animal per pound of body weight. The breed is distinct from all other goats in its fleece characteristics and management requirements.
The Angora goat has been documented in the Ankara region of Turkey for at least 2,500 years. The breed was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and mohair was traded along the Silk Road to the East. The Turkish government maintained strict control over the breed for centuries, prohibiting export of purebred Angoras to preserve the monopoly on mohair production.
The first Angora goats were exported from Turkey to South Africa in 1838, and to the United States in 1849, when Sultan Abdul Mejid I presented a gift of 12 animals to the American ambassador. These early imports died, but successful importations followed in the 1850s. The breed was established in the American Southwest by the 1860s, where the arid climate and brushy terrain provided suitable conditions for mohair production. The United States became the second-largest mohair-producing country behind South Africa by the early 20th century.
Angora goats are small to medium-sized with a distinctive appearance. Mature does weigh 80 to 110 pounds (35 to 50 kilograms), and bucks weigh 120 to 180 pounds (55 to 80 kilograms). The entire body except for the head and legs below the knee is covered in long, lustrous mohair locks. The fleece hangs in ringlets or waves and grows continuously, requiring shearing twice per year. The head is clean with drooping ears, and the face is straight or slightly dished. The coat is white, though colored varieties are also raised.
Mohair is classified by the age of the animal at shearing. Kid mohair, from the first shearing at 6 months of age, is the finest and softest, with a fiber diameter of 23 to 28 microns. Adult mohair is coarser, ranging from 30 to 40 microns. The fleece grows 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) every six months, and a mature Angora produces 8 to 12 pounds (3.5 to 5.5 kilograms) of mohair per year.
Angora goats are kept for mohair production on homesteads and small farms. The fiber commands a premium in the hand-spinning and craft market, particularly kid mohair, which is used for lightweight garments, baby items, and luxury accessories. Adult mohair is used in upholstery, rugs, and outerwear.
Angora goats are less hardy than other goat breeds. The heavy fleece can cause overheating in hot weather, and the lack of hair on the legs makes them more susceptible to cold wet conditions. The fleece must be sheared twice per year, and the goats require housing with shade in summer and dry shelter in winter. The breed's high nutritional demands for fiber production require a diet richer in energy and protein than that of meat or dairy goats.