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Show GOATINDUSTRY ONJNCREASE Approximately 50,000 Pounds of Mohair, Worth 50c to 65c per Pound Sheared Here The raising of Angora goats, practically prac-tically a new industry in Washington county, is making rapid strides, and it j is estimated that 100.000 pounds of j mchair will be shipped from Cedar City to the Boston market within the next two weeks. The bulk of this fleece was raised at New Harmony, which is the goat raising center of this ' district. There ' are also a few flocks at Gunlock and one in Clark county and some in Kane. About 15,000 goats were sheared at the Sullivan corral near St. George, the past two weeks and produced around 50,000 pounds of mohair worth 50 cents to 65 cents a pound f. o. b. Cedar City. Representatives of Ryder & Brown Co. Boston mohair and wool dealers, were here Saturday and contracted for the entire clip. Don Schmutz of New Harmony im-1 im-1 ported the first herd of goats in this ! district, followed shortly after by An-tone An-tone B. Prince, of the same place, who brought in a herd. In 1913 there were only 2000 head in Washington and Iron counties, while now it is estimated there are over 30,-j 30,-j 000 in these two counties. Fourteen years ago the mohair clip per head there averaged 214 pounds; this year ! the average will run from five to seven ! Dounds ner goat, and the fleece is the S equal of any on the market. However, How-ever, a man cannot expect five or seven pounds of hair on any kind of goat, but like any other domestic animal, only by careful breeding can the best results be obtained. To demand de-mand top prices fleece must be clean. I A few pure-bred goats are imported into this district every year, from Texas, Arizona, Oregon, California and ! intermountain states. The natural in-I in-I crease in toe number of goats in this district this year over last is estimated ! at one-third. j There has been a steady increase in ! mohair production in the United States j the past 10 years. In 1909, 3,600,000 j pounds were produced in this country; in 1915, 6,000.000 pounds; in 1920, 7,000,-000 7,000,-000 pounds; in 1924, 10,000,000 pounds; in 1926, 11,000,000 pounds. The demand for mohair is increasing increas-ing faster than the production, and is in' such demand that it is generally contracted for before it is shorn. For upholstery, draperies, and various var-ious other purposes the fleece of the Angora goat is unequalled. The first two shearings of an Angora kid are classed as kid hair, and is very fine and commands top prices. Angoras can be raised anywhere on high dry ground. They do best in the hills ranging from 2000 to 3000 feet above sea level. They feed very much like the common deer; will brouse on all kinds of brush, weeds and grass. Sage brush and cedar are esiecially delectable feed for goats. They will graze on any kind of grain in the field and improve the land at the same time. Another industry in this connection, which, according to goat raisers, would thrive here is the raising of nure-bred stock. The altitude, climate and other conditions are ideal for this purpose and a large sum could be saved growers grow-ers in express charges and at the same time the money would be kept at home. Pure bred Angora goats imported from the outside cost anywhere from $30 to $200 each, plus express charges. That this industry in this district is receiving receiv-ing some attention on the outside is shown by the number of inquiries received re-ceived by growers at New Harmony. There is unlimited range and that goat herds in this county will greatly increase in-crease each year seems certain. |