Angora wool in high demand as young buck takes out grand champion at ASWS

The top Angora goat at this year's Australian Sheep & Wool Show is a "fine example" of why wool producers should look to include the breed in their operation.

That's according to judge John Hoornweg, Violet Town, who said mohair fleece from Angora goats had a bright future.

Mr Hoornweg picked a buck from Dulark Angora stud, Springrange, NSW, as his grand champion of the breed.

Dulark stud principal Nick Gorrie said he was a really nice buck.

"He stands beautifully, so we bought him as a really good representation of the breed," Mr Gorrie said.

"But it's always exciting to win grand champion."

He said the grand champion was from bloodlines bred by Don and Lynne Carter, Lynndon Grove, Moonta, SA.

Mr Gorrie said the family was running more than 1000 goats, producing four tonnes of fibre a year for export to South Africa.

"It's hard work, but the prices are good, although you have to be careful with your operating costs," he said.

"The goats are cutting more than they were.

"With improved genetics, it's worthwhile."

He said the stud had good success with imported South African genetics.

Wool is processed in South Africa before being sent to Italy for high-quality suiting and China for knitted garments.

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Mr Hoornweg said the grand champion had a very good length of fibre, which was very even, as well as good conformation.

"There were some very good genetics on show, with varying wool lengths due to the timing of the show as it's at a different time to the normal show scene," he said.

"But the shorter fleeced animals showed good quality fibre for the fleece length."

He said the animals were well prepared, even though it was the middle of winter.

He said the winning buck would have a value of between $1000-$2000.

"He would bring that solidity of staple, that good style character, with heavy fleeced does," he said.

"He would be a 'refining' buck."

Mr Hoornweg said the top Angora kid fibre was making 5500-6000 cents a kilogram clean.

"That kid fibre will be blended with a 14-16 micron wool to make the best suits in the world," he said.

"When you are comparing that to 16 micron wool, you are way in front."

He said producers seemed to be sceptical about Angora goats as they had to be shorn twice a year.

"It is difficult, but there are a lot of Merino breeders who are producing fine wool, which is over length," he said.

"Some of them are going to six or eight-month shearing to meet the manufacturer's specifications," he said.

"Yes, it's two shearings a year, but that's two incomes."