FARM ANIMALS 287 



scarcely be eaten by any other farm animal, ex- 

 cepting sheep. It is claimed that when Angoras 

 are allowed to graze on such material the meat 

 takes on a gamey flavor and, in fact, some de- 

 mand has arisen for Angora meat which is some- 

 times sold under the name Angora venison. The 

 chief value of the Angora is for the production of 

 mohair which constitutes the greater part of their 

 fleece. Mohair is extensively used in this country 

 in the manufacture of plush and a large percentage 

 of it is imported. Some coarse hair or kemp is 

 usually mixed with the mohair in our Angoras 

 and this indicates impurity of the blood. 



The weight of the fleece in three-quarters bred 

 Angoras is one to one and a half pounds, worth 

 about fifteen to twenty cents a pound, while seven- 

 eighths goats shear two to three pounds and fifteen- 

 sixteenths bred goats three to five pounds, worth 

 from thirty to forty cents a pound. Occasionally, 

 of course, much higher, weights of fleece have 

 been obtained, the weight sometimes reaching 

 sixteen pounds. This, however, is very excep- 

 tional. The skins of Angoras with the mohair 

 attached and properly tanned are in considerable 

 demand for rugs either in a natural color or dyed. 

 Such skins may be used for rugs or robes. An- 

 other purpose for which Angoras are used by the 

 ranchers of the West, is as a leader for a herd of 

 sheep. Many sheep raisers consider it advisable 

 to have a goat with each band of sheep, since, 

 goats travel more rapidly than sheep, are not so 

 easily frightened and are more likely to assume 

 the initiative in looking after good grass. The 

 band is thus prevented from tramping about too 

 much on the same area, therefore, injuring the 

 grass and failing to obtain the best grazing. 



