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Sep 10, 2023 Features / Columnists, Interesting Creatures:, News, Waterfalls Magazine
Waterfalls Magazine – The Angora rabbit (Turkish: Ankara Tavşanı) is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit, bred for the long fibers of its coat, which is known as Angora wool. The Angora wool is gathered by shearing, combing or plucking the rabbit.
Because rabbits do not possess the same allergy-causing qualities as many other animals, their wool is an important alternative.
There are at least 11 distinct breeds of Angora rabbit, four of which are currently recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA): English Angora, French Angora, Giant Angora and Satin Angora. Others include German Angora, Chinese Angora, Finnish Angora, Japanese Angora, Korean Angora, Russian Angora, St Lucian Angora and Swiss Angora.
The Angora is said to have originated in Ankara (historically known as Angora), in present-day Turkey, and is known to have been brought to France in 1723. The Angora rabbit became a popular pet of the French royalty in the mid-18th century, and Angoras had spread to other parts of Europe by the end of that century. In the United States, garments made of Angora-rabbit wool have been popular ever since they first arrived in the early 20th century.
However, only during World War II did domestic production expand to meet the demand for more than 120,000 pounds a year. This valuable, soft, silky, fiber aroused much interest, and quickly people became enamored with the production process.
Angoras are bred mainly for their wool, which is silky and soft. At only 14–16 micrometres in diameter, it is similar to cashmere in fineness and softness to the touch. A healthy adult Angora’s wool will grow approximately 3 centimetres (1 in) per month. Regular grooming is necessary to prevent the fibre from matting and felting on the rabbit, which causes discomfort and can lead to pain and even infection. Angora wool is harvested (plucked or shorn) every three to four months throughout the year. The coat needs to be monitored after 6 months of regrowth since it may tend to “die” and easily mat.
Angora wool may be gathered periodically by hand-plucking the hairs within the coat that are being naturally shed. Full harvesting is done by shearing the coat with clippers or small scissors, often while the rabbit sits atop a groomer’s turntable. Shearing typically starts at the head, moving across the shoulders to the tail. The rabbit is then flipped and the underside is shorn from tail to chin. Between 12 and 18 oz. of wool may be harvested from a Giant Angora. (Source: Wikipedia)
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