David Burt: Mohair, mo' money

Mohair is the fibre harvested from angora goats.

Mohair is the fibre harvested from angora goats, and at more than $20 per kilogram it is significantly more valuable than wool from sheep.

At its peak, worldwide mohair production reached 24 million kilograms per annum.

Now it's just under three million. South Africa was the mohair powerhouse, but political and other changes there have seen production dwindle.

However, markets remain hungry for the angora goat's fibre, which is used in high-end garments and textiles.

New Zealand's two major buying warehouses have purchased all the mohair local farmers have been able to supply, and a 10 per cent increase in price was achieved for an inaugural aggregated pool of premium mohair last year.

The buyers have said if the supply volume can be raised, even higher prices can be achieved.

Many angora goat farmers belong to the Mohair Producers New Zealand group. MPNZ, part of the Federated Farmers goats industry group, is holding a conference in Ashburton from Friday to Sunday March 3-5, with the theme 'Mohair, from producer to profit.'

At last year's very successful conference in Pukekohe, keynote speaker GT Ferreira, a world expert in the production and sale of mohair, spoke to angora goat farmers about what they needed to do to develop access to the higher value and much more lucrative weaving sector.

MPNZ has been investigating this area over the past year, and the Ashburton conference will focus on helping angora goat farmers get more from their investment.

The three-day event, while including a general meeting on the Saturday morning, will have a very practical focus.

There will a field trip to the ANZCO Five Star Beef operation on the Friday and Saturday afternoon, and the Sunday sessions will be packed with advice and information to help angora goat farmers improve their businesses.

On the Saturday morning Dr Mark Ferguson, a geneticist with the New Zealand Merino Company, will speak on learnings from the merino sector in areas such as nutrition that can be applied to the mohair industry.

The Saturday afternoon will be spent on a goat farm, where David Williams, a veteran of the international mohair industry, will provide suggestions on how returns can be improved.

A conference dinner on the Saturday evening and the Sunday programme, at the Mohair Pacific warehouse, will also have a practical focus.

David Williams will share his knowledge about the fantastic attributes of mohair as a natural fibre and where the industry could head in order to improve returns.

The Mohair Pacific owners will talk about how to prepare a fleece for transport to the warehouse and factors that affect fleece value.

The weekend will be great value for all current and aspiring angora goat farmers, including those who might get into it as a way to diversify/introduce a valuable sideline.

- Email: DBurt@fedfarm.org.nz