Goat genetics on the up and up

Mohair demand skyrocketing
By NIKKI ALLEN - Australia
Monday, 14 November 2005

Growers are being encouraged to increase their annual mohair clip as global demand for mohair pushes the Australian industry to new highs. The value of the $2.5 million-a-year industry is tipped to increase dramatically as prices for the fibre push past the $10/kg mark. Growers say the industry looks its ‘brightest’ in at least 20 years.

Indeed, improvements in goat genetics mean it could be an option for hard-pressed woolgrowers.

Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation (AMMO) manager, Craig Clancy, Narrandera, NSW, said demand for the fibre had been strong for some time. “Overseas processors cannot get enough of it and we need to increase supply,” he said. He said the demand was created after world supplies dropped to a 30-year low. Major growing countries such as South Africa and Turkey had diversified into different enterprises, such as game parks, and, though the price remained firm, Mr Clancy said seasonal conditions for growing mohair hadn’t been strong overseas.
Most of Australia’s production is exported and many of the large wool-buying houses also source mohair. European countries are major buyers and Mr Clancy says South Africa has been buying more recently. He said the Angora industry was already successfully using techniques such as embryo transfer and artificial insemination.
Mohair Australia will hold an open day on November 26 at the Narrandera Showgrounds. Contact
(02) 6959 2069.
SOURCE: Extract from report in The Land, NSW, November 10